Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Syrian immigrants
from "the professional class"
caught in vicious crossfire
struggling to escape the violence
getting their families to safety
for example, on NPR this morning
a doctor paying a smuggler
$35,000
to get his wife and children
safely to Germany
an arduous, dangerous journey
by plane, by train, by bus, on foot
no guarantee of success
and many "smugglers" crooks
but the gods bless the doctor
"I got the right smuggler"
and his family is safe in Germany
leaving one more challenge
dangerous and expensive
"Now I must join them"
By the gods, so much of life
is luck of the draw
who are your parents?
what is your country?
what historical events await you?
I, who must pay no smuggler,
drew a royal flush in life
and you who have the leisure
to read this did as well
never forget it
--Charles Deemer
Syrian immigrants
from "the professional class"
caught in vicious crossfire
struggling to escape the violence
getting their families to safety
for example, on NPR this morning
a doctor paying a smuggler
$35,000
to get his wife and children
safely to Germany
an arduous, dangerous journey
by plane, by train, by bus, on foot
no guarantee of success
and many "smugglers" crooks
but the gods bless the doctor
"I got the right smuggler"
and his family is safe in Germany
leaving one more challenge
dangerous and expensive
"Now I must join them"
By the gods, so much of life
is luck of the draw
who are your parents?
what is your country?
what historical events await you?
I, who must pay no smuggler,
drew a royal flush in life
and you who have the leisure
to read this did as well
never forget it
--Charles Deemer
