Uprooted, Tumbled, but Hopeful

Recently, I feel displaced

Uprooted from both cultures

Muted in my expression

Conscious of what I say.

*

I fled my first country.

Russia felt suffocating

Limiting my freedom

Killing hope to thrive.

*

They’ve now taken my language away

Russian has become the war speak

The lingo of hatred and occupation

The language I don’t want to use.

*

US, my new home country

Used to be my aspiration,

Dreamy shining city on a hill

I wanted my son to grow up in.

*

They are destroying English for me,

Using it to divide and gaslight,

Making it into the language of hate,

Isolation, racism, and war crimes.

*

Fascism is rearing its ugly head again,

All over the world dictators think

They can easily dupe the masses

To rule, to rob, to kill in perpetuity.

With impunity.

*

How are we in this place again,

Less than a hundred years after

Two horrible, devastating world wars?

Is the violence gene humanity’s doom?

*

An expat with cut roots,

I feel lost and confused.

In a third country now

I’m safe but anxious.

*

And still, I am horrified but stay hopeful.

Have to be, for my son and his generation.

Hoping they will be able to break the spell

Of self-destruction, hatred, and gloom.

They need to branch off.

*

They do deserve a better world.

They have the right to live free,

Unburdened from our mistakes

And the elites’ unchecked greed.

*

I hope they will build that world.

I pray they’ll figure out how

To make the world safe and rich,

An Inviting and thriving home for all.

*

I hope they will have enough strength

To put down new roots and branch off,

Build a new society of content equals,

Confident non-violent humans.