Traveler, who walks through distant lands
looking for what in your country one cannot find.
Sad traveler who contemplates the moon,
every night, until dawn.
No matter the sacrifice you have to do,
no matter the suffering that it has caused you.
Nothing matters, but work
to provide to your family tranquility.
How many times have you been exploited
generating money for those,
that regardless of you being undocumented,
gladly gave you the job!
Days pass, years pass,
always longing to return
to see your parents, family, brothers
left pursuing dreams of progress.
You formed a family in these lands,
you have adapted to this lifestyle.
More divided a heart could not be,
trapped between love and promises.
La migra lurks by everyday.
You hear the rumors that people tell.
This time the raid caught your friend,
who knows where they detained her!
That morning you again awoke early,
with a tender kiss you said goodbye.
How would you know the future,
if it is less certain than life itself?
The youngest of your children felt your lips
he said, "Daddy I love you so much,
take care and see you soon.”
It's been two months and yet you have not returned.
In a cell, sad you are,
thinking about your loved ones.
What will be of your wife and children?
Who will take care of them now?
Many families have been separated
because of the same system,
which private prisons take advantage of
and, with riches, fill their pockets.
On the radio and the press one hears
of the so-called Immigration Reform,
which, despite the struggle, they have amended
and filled it with fractions silly and absurd.
Where has freedom ended!
Nobody knows where the country's headed,
wanting to convert its borders
to the most militarized in the world.
Vigils and marches, protests,
people are starting to wake up.
A hope feeds their minds
of one day finally mending their situation.
Do not stop dreaming brother.
Lift your head, look ahead
of being undocumented do not be ashamed,
all the contrary, let it instead fill you of valor!
Millions support your feeling
and they will not stop fighting.
There are many ways to insist
‘til one day obtain awaited freedom.
Enough of unjust deportations,
for this cause we fight. They seek to
hush us with anti-immigrant laws.
We . . . we will not surrender!
Viajero que caminas por tierras lejanas
buscando aquello que en tu país no encuentras.
Viajero que triste la luna contemplas,
todas las noches, hasta la madrugada.
No importa el sacrificio que tengas que hacer,
ni importa el sufrimiento que te ha de causar.
No importa nada, sólo trabajar
para dar a los tuyos tranquilidad.
Cuantas veces has sido explotado
generando dinero para aquellos,
que sin importar si eras indocumentado,
gustosos te dieron el empleo!
Pasan los días, pasan los años,
siempre anhelando regresar
a ver a tus padres, familia, hermanos
que dejaste por sueños de progresar.
Formaste familia en estas tierras,
te has adaptado a este estilo de vida,
más dividido el corazón no podría
estas atrapado entre amor y promesas.
La migra te asecha todos los días.
Escuchas rumores que la gente cuenta,
que la redada esta vez atrapo a tu amiga.
Que quien sabe donde la tienen presa!
Ese día despertaste de nuevo temprano
con un beso tierno te despedías.
Más como saber el destino,
si es más incierto que la misma vida?
El menor de tus hijos sintió tus labios
y te dijo " papi cuanto te amo
cuidate mucho, regresa pronto.”
Ya han pasado dos meses y no has regresado.
En una celda triste te encuentras,
solo pensando en los tuyos.
Que será de tu esposa e hijos?
Quien cuidara ahora de ellos?
Muchas familias han sido separadas
por culpa del mismo sistema,
lo cual aprovechan cárceles privadas
para llenar sus bolsillos de riquezas.
En la radio y la prensa se escucha
sobre una tal reforma migratoria
que han enmendado a pesar de la lucha
con fracciones absurdas y tontas.
Donde ha quedado la libertad!
Nadie sabe del país su rumbo,
al querer convertir sus fronteras
en las más militarizadas del mundo.
Vigilias y marchas, protestas,
la gente comienza a despertar.
Una esperanza alimenta sus mentes
de poder por fin su situación arreglar.
No dejes de soñar hermano.
Levanta la cara, mira de frente
que el ser indocumentado no te avergüence
al contrario, que eso, de valor te llene!
Millones apoyan tu sentir
y no dejarán de luchar.
Hay muchas maneras de insistir
para conseguir la ansiada libertad.
Ya basta de deportaciones injustas,
por esta causa luchemos. Si callarnos
con leyes anti inmigrantes buscan.
Nosotros . . . No nos rendiremos!!
VERONICA MARQUEZ is a native of Chihuahua, Mexico. She migrated to the United States in 1994 and has called Mississippi home since 2001. Marquez organizes local support for immigrant rights issues in the Memphis area. She is the mother of four and has worked as a domestic worker in the South for almost fifteen years. "Immigrant Traveler" was written while her husband faced deportation.
