Aterrados*

By Edward J. Herdrich

Parts of this land were home before La Nina brought you here

and though our presence in this place was quite clear

you found, like the Lakota and others, you did not want us near.

The Alamo, one example of many, showed some people found a need

felt between pride and greed, a sense for them to succeed.

In other parts too, originales definition askew,

but we learned to give way to this country anew

Through time, our histories were never really shared

in this new nation America, created by those for-whites-only cared

we learned to feel marginalized, to some extent scared.

At the turn of the century, labor rights became a new cause

but for us, our fight equal and just, Knights of Labor led only to a pause

once again striking with white-only paws, carved us a separate clause.

New generation felt an industrialized, even greater sense of greed

want us for the labor - our blood, sweat and tears your only need.

Now we learned that no change would come easy

asking we perform anything that might make you queasy.

Becoming ever-increasingly clear, apathy times profit squared

in this growing and developing America, our pain not spared

we learned to know marginalized, courage rising while scared.

With the AFL and CIO, rights for other laborers continued to grow

Dolores Huerta and others too, fought so we also would know

the just rewards and benefits of those whose job to reap and sow.

Progress was made as fights were joined and we stood aside

other laborers of all stripes who, of capitalism’s sins, they too decried.

For a brief moment it seemed some recognition of rights

some hope that rewards might come from our enduring fights.

In this, however an unfortunate example of where we erred

for just as quickly visa, green cards and other changes, our smiles ensnared

again we were reminded of being marginalized, angered while scared.

Right and left some would say, Republican or Democrat holding sway

DACA and others seemed to show perhaps the light shining forth of a new day

none though could have seen, an orange clown would call forth the hate of the old way.

ICE, an abomination needing to be abolished, instead made stronger still

by those who make white-only, Christian-nationalism their force of will.

Denying history for us and all others brown, black or what they consider not quite right

an obscene manifestation of America they make in brazen daylight.

For us the hope can be seen in those who now show they have cared

those who realize this new level of absolute self and greed, most need be scared

more than that, especially, but not only for us, this greater hate – aterrados.*

Like never before, scared even to go out the door,

though we went to appointments as told to before

now even this, they choose to ignore.

While the criminals they say

the only they will send away.

My father y abuelo worked and played by the rules

feeling now as if they were played for fools,

trapped in the basement, los tigres golden cage scared

not even the children or grandparents spared

it is all next level – absolutamente aterrados.

*aterrados – terrified

abuelo - grandfather

Authors note: I am not of Hispanic/Latino heritage. But, I have many friends who are, and this poem represents a compilation of thoughts and feelings expressed by them, as well as my own sense of outrage at the injustices long practiced, and more currently intensified in an obscene manner, by our government.