HispanicVista Columnists
T’was The Weeks Before Christmas
By
Bill Dahl/HispanicVista.com- T’was The Weeks Before Christmas
- By Bill Dahl
- © 2005
- T’was the weeks before Christmas
- And all through this nation
- Not a fingers been lifted,
- To address the injustice of illegal immigration.
- The focus is now, on the fear of terror,
- Intelligence reform to make us more safe and aware.
- While millions of immigrant families live in the gray scare,
- Wondering when we’ll all wake up to care.
- The children of southern California are all snuggled in their beds,
- While visions of deportation dance in their heads.
- No stockings are hung by any chimney anywhere,
- They can’t afford socks, as employment opportunities are gray-market and rare.
- Momma doesn’t own a “kerchief,” and daddy has no cap,
- We sleep two in each bunk bed, even when we nap.
- We live in high- density housing, there’s a constant din of traffic noise and clatter
- It would take a lot more than a herd of Reindeer
- To rouse our family to go out and see what’s the matter.
- In our neighborhood if we hear something loud, like a crash
- We dive for cover on the floor like a flash,
- We have bars on our windows, no shutters
or sash.
The moonlight illuminates the thugs, on the corners below - They never go away, just blend into the shadows they know.
- When what to my broken heart did appear?
- The realization that we’ve been ignored, for a whole ‘nother year.
- As infants we came,
- In the arms of mom and dad across the border.
- I have three more sisters born here in Santa Ana,
- They’re U.S. citizens! I’m illegal. Can someone please resolve this unjust disorder?
- In my neighborhood, when you see a car drive erratically,
- With a driver who’s speeding real quick.
- “Dive for cover! It’s a drive-by in progress.”
- It surely isn’t some guy named “Saint Nick.”
- Our President proclaims, “No child left behind!”
- If he came to Santa Ana, we would ask if he’s deaf, dumb and blind.
- If he took time to meet me, my family and folks of our kind,
- We know he’d change his myopic little mind.
- Today I woke up, to the sound of my mother’s scream.
- This is no exaggeration. This was no dream.
- My father was unconscious, he was motionless and looked lost.
- He hadn’t had his insulin, because of the cost.
- My hope is some day soon,
- Our country will confront this ongoing
shame.
We need responsible leadership, I can call them by name;
"Now, Bush! Now, Cheney! Now, Schwarzenneger and Boxer!
On, Frist! On Biden! On Villaraigosa and Pulido!
To the floor in Sacramento! To Congressional roll call!
Do the right thing! Dash away this shame that casts this great pall! - When half-baked appeasements give way to the freedom we must realize.
- And then, in a twinkling, you’ll hear from our heart.
- This flag I have pledged all these years,
has been my only home from the start.
Please, no more prancing and pawing, yet another legislative spoof. - Let’s resolve this issue head-on, instead
of wandering around on the roof.
I envision the day, as I’m turning around,
Tapping on my shoulder is President Bush, without a sound.
He is dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
His cowboy hat and clothes are all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of legislation he had flung on his back,
He asks me for a pen, as he’s opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! - He smirked and chuckled when he said,
- “Lame duck? I’ll show those Democrats and John Kerry!”
- His drawl was clearly Texas, sporting a
cowboy-like type bow,
Dick Cheney stood behind him, his face, white as the snow;
The end of a ballpoint pen Bush held tight in his teeth,
There was a halo that encircled his head like a wreath;
Cheney had a broad face and a rotund round belly,
That shook, as he stood in our doorway, like a nervous bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, not at all glad to see ya. - He recoiled for a moment when momma
offered him a tortilla.
President Bush and I laughed when we saw this,
Cheney really didn’t know what to think, - “Are you really going to sign this bill George?”
- President Bush looked up, and gave me a
wink.
With a quick glance and a flick of his pen,
”Yes I am Dick,” “this is how my term in Congress will end.”
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
He whispered in my ear, “Forgive my friend. Dick, sometimes he’s a jerk”
And laying his finger to the side of his nose,
He gave a nod after signing the bill, to the TV cameras he saluted as he rose;
He sprang to his feet, to Carl Rove gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the windblown down of a thistle. - But I heard him exclaim, as the
motorcade drove out of sight,
"Felice Navidad to all, and to all a good-night." - _________________________________________________________________
- About the Author:
- wsdahl@bendbroadband.com
- or jjdahl@bendbroadband.com
- www.dahlinteriordesign.com
- http://billdahl.net/
Demonstrate to the world
we mean it when we say, “Liberty and Justice for ALL!”
As dry leaves before the wind of the hurricane flies,
These leaders have the power, to wipe the tears from millions of eyes.
I dream of the day, when truth replaces sound bites and lies.
The day when up to the
Hill top, our leaders will fly
With comprehensive legislation, forget that St. Nicholas guy.
Bill Dahl, is a freelance writer and social justice advocate. Contact Bill at: mailto:wsdahl@pacbell.net or see his website at http://billdahl.net/. For the past fifteen years, Bill and his wife have been called to work with the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized as volunteer community youth workers. Bill is published in numerous professional publications, magazines, websites, newspapers and newsletters. He is the author of five manuscripts, presently under consideration for publication. Bill earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in liberal arts from Washington State University. He has taught at the university and community college levels. During his business career, Bill was an executive with several FORTUNE 500 companies including Chrysler, Nations Bank, Bank of America and GMAC. He also led a consulting practice providing strategic advice to companies for several years. He has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally. He has substantial public speaking experience and has led seminars throughout the United States. He is a member of the Christian Writers Guild and has been accepted to begin graduate study at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. He just can’t afford it yet. Bill and his family make their home in central Oregon.
Copyright © 2005 by Bill Dahl. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. All rights reserved. Rights for publishing this poem, in part or its entirety, in other languages, audio and any other form are contracted to Bill Dahl.
Requests for permission to make copies of or reprint any part of the work should be mailed to: Bill Dahl, P.O. Box 2308 Redmond, OR 97756.