Immigrants

We weren’t working.

In fact it’s doubtful we even wanted to work.

Craving self-sufficiency, we hadn’t the tools -

Perhaps the skills - and abused your welfare.

We tried to make ourselves invisible,

But I have a big mouth and couldn’t help it.

After a time I wanted to spend time with you too -

Wanted to divide myself, be of both worlds

But my perpetual moaning exhausted us both,

And we weren’t working.

We kept trying to work, but maybe both resisted

And I found myself more and more stretched

Painfully rather than snapped cleanly.

Finally, miserably, I was dumped at your mercy;

Now I blindly pray that we work

But I’m left alone with you, and have nothing to do.