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In Case They’re Gone
© 2020 Ray Weaver
 
Maria is learning to make tortillas, with momma in the tiny kitchen.
Jesus walks close to the walls at school, never attracting attention.
Some call them dreamers but they know, their American dream could become a nightmare
ICE can come without warning, and momma and poppy would be nowhere.
 
In case they’re gone,
In case poppy disappears from his job at the slaughterhouse.
In case the shackles are put on momma legs one morning,
while she cleans the banker’s house.
They’re children with no childhood, living in and jumping at every shadow.
Learning what they will need to go on.
In case they’re gone.
 
The foreman down at the factory, never cared much if they were holding papers.
Hell, they’re all the same to him, faceless bodies, cheap labor.
When the raids came down at midnight, he stood back and let them in.
“We don’t want no problems, sir, we’re just tryin’ to make a livin’.”
 
In case they’re gone,
In case poppy’s broom lies abandoned at the high school.
In case the shackles are put on momma legs one morning,
while she cleans the toilets at the public pool.
They’re children with no childhood, living in and jumping at every shadow.
Learning what they will need to go on.
In case they’re gone.
 
Peeking from behind tattered curtains, doing the jobs no one else would want.
Somehow so many are so certain, they have their hands in our pockets.
They say they don’t belong here, we should send them all back home.
These children, they were born here, it’s the only home they’ve ever known.
 
In case they’re gone,
In case poppy just disappears while building fences.
In case the shackles are put on momma legs one night,
while she’s out at the diner washing dishes.
They’re children with no childhood, living in and jumping at every shadow.
Learning what they will need to go on.
In case they’re gone.
Learning what they will need to go on.
In case they’re gone.