naked arms
they may be hungry
but they are not cold
they learned first
not to be cold
not to wear a coat
because there was no coat
you see them at grunt work
on hiways on rooftops on farms you see
them pushing snow pushing manure
no coat like they are not cold
tho you are freezing everyone is freezing
the old ones survived
the border crossing
determined to tolerate
anything for a penny
just for this opportunity
they could not afford to be cold
their kids' kids' kids still crawl out
from beneath old truckbeds
or plywood lean-tos down at the tracks
to walk to school to learn english
with their faces scrubbed
but without coats with naked arms
you want to say:
are you hungry
are you cold
tho you know they are not cold
if you gave them your coat
they would not wear it
they do not wear coats
bulk beans or rice suffice
but they are not cold
_______by The Poet Spiel
Welcome to PH, though, from the biography, I suspect the author will not be reading my comment. bri ;)
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I like the last two lines especially, for the alliteration and rhyme in the first line. Cheers. bri ;)