America, Here I Come! 11 July 2009 Poem by Margaret Alice

Dreaming of traveling one day
a holiday agency offered a highly
discounted vacation and I said yes,
trusting dreams will come true once
everyone sees what we can do

If they say no, I’m willing to go on my
own, talk to strangers all alone, gamble
against my fears of the unknown, when
I prayed for a son I followed the old wives’
tale of eating salty food

To show the universe my desire was deep
and real, accepting this holiday offer is a
gesture of trust in a benevolent universe,
that gave me the coveted son, sustained
me in spite of what I’ve done

Taking life-threatening risks, ignoring safety
I want to LIVE, not simply exist, we were born
to overcome old boundaries, create new dreams
boldly go where our parents did not dream it was
possible to venture

America, here I come, ready or not, may God bless
America, keep them safe against the shock
of my existence!

11 July 2009