Poets note: In our polarized world of either being for justice or against justice, we must realize that when it comes to immigration and our policies there is a third way. The third way is to understand in every country, especially one hard wired for high consumption, is limited. It is limited in open space, limited in room for more cars, limited in water resources, limited in jobs and representation in our halls of congress. The pandemic has shown us that trying to get everyone a vaccine or hospital bed is exacerbated by our now 331,000,000. The earth and each country within it operates in a closed system. Policies creating more growth fly in the face of that reality. I hope this poem opens some eyes to an issue which is NOT at its core about anything other exceeding ecological limits.
Limits Live Here Too
by Karen I. Shragg
Do them a favor
Turn them away
with an abundance of grace and dignity
for the pain they will endure
Don't let them in
Out of love for their future
Out of fear for our own
If our wildlife had a vote
they would concur.
We are overflowing
Overpowered
Overdone
Well-baked
Our patriotic goose is cooked
in the oven with the temperature set on climate chaos
a bit more afloat than others, perhaps
But sinking none the less
and more will never allow
any to fully achieve
the kind of life we all seek.
We can no longer be the release valve
for the suffering peoples of the world
or for those who just seek a bit better life
It's all and only about limits
Set by nature, disobeyed by man.
Know we must never use numbers as an excuse for racist intentions
while reaching for the chalk
to draw our responsible line in the sand.