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Refugee child,
you understand, don’t you?
For the Land of Fox News
and Home of the Wall, it’s America First.
Neither caravan rider nor conflict survivor
may seek sanctuary here.

Refugee child,
you understand, don’t you?
Your color, your culture, your religion,
nightmarish caricatures of these
stir up dark impulses
within the Christian Heartland.

Refugee child,
you understand, don’t you?
In the nation’s dystopian worldview,
fear of the Other is a political tool
to whip up disaffected masses
and stroke fragile egos.

Refugee child,
you understand, don’t you?
Caught up in our Brave New World,
forlorn and miserable in some refugee camp,
your sacrifices won’t be in vain,
so long as America’s great again!

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Author:

Dr. Greg Guelcher began teaching history at Morningside in 1996. His wife, Yumiko, is an immigrant. Greg’s poem was inspired by U.S. policy separating children from their asylum-seeking parents.

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Voice Actor:

Engels Perez is a student at Morningside College.