Poem - the reasons for migrating

I came across a poem by Dr. Ali Alizadeh, a senior lecturer in Literary Studies Monash University, called "Immigration".  It is a wonderful, succinct declaration of the reasons for migrating.   It fits very well for refugees.

I have asked Ali for his permission for us to reprint this poem in our newsletter.   If you think it is suitable perhaps it could be included when there is space.  Ted Lourey

 Ali Alizadeh

Immigration

I'll tell you why.

To survive

the onslaught of religion.

To outlive

the ghosts of martyrs.

To recover

from the world's longest war since WWII.  To live

beyond the hatreds of patriotism.   To see

the kinder face of humanity. 

To think

free of the Faith's manacles. 

 To believe

without the obligation of forming belief.  

 To discover

the basic joy of being.  

 The price?  I'll tell you.  

Evaporation.

Marginalised to the point

 of disappearance.

Barred for nothing

more profound than a shade

 of skin, a tone

of speech, a taste

 of lifestyle.   Alienated

beyond the word.

Ignored by the mighty.

  Detested by the commoner.

Worth it?  Doubtless.

To finally grasp   humanity's fraudulent truth.

To dream the sweetness of equality.  

 To see past

the facade of brotherhood.  

 To be touched

you might say, by the rays

of a luminous discovery.

To abandon,

all faith, and come to cherish

the immense solitude

of non-believing.

To desire.  To know

the power of desire.  To wait

joyfully amid the unpalatable sadness.

Recommend it?

Only to loathsome enemies

and to my dearest friends.