My heart is moved by the Chinelo flame
I speak aloud the name
"immigrants"
unprotected from the covenant of citizenship
justice obstructed so I lament
"immigrants"
the name that's profiled and reviled
held in custody, abducted abruptly
"immigrants"
working, building, hustling, grinding
providing for generations to keep on surviving
"immigrants"
Seen as 'the help' and demeaned and condescended to
Invisible as the force undergirding your lifestyle too
"immigrants"
these unseen hands that keep you clean and fed
these 'unskilled' hands that make your daily bread
"immigrants"
Gifted the 'Chinelo' dignified resistance
Strengthening the resilience that persists against ignorance
"immigrants"
this nation was built by them, whatever generation
overcoming fragmentation, disintegration, assimilation
"immigrants"
a gift for and to and from all nations
to this nation, out of many, one
