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And when they enter the waters of Delta Amacuro
One last look at Tucupita
The wind numbs everyone
Blowing kisses
Venezuela te amo
En mi corazon
The sign of the cross
Ten Hail Marys
The fishermen lifted the children on top of their mother’s plastic suitcases
Then they stuff their money in their diesel stained pockets
Flickering their cigarettes
Puffing away the moment
The current is rough
Fish scales falling from their beards
It is time to wrap their black neck gaiters
Everyone is screaming and vomiting their fate
(via Infomigrants)
“You’re over your limit, which one goes overboard?”
“Mamaguevo!” someone shouts
Maria surrenders one case
“It is light,” she cries
She empties it into the foaming sea
Off the shoulder sleeve blouses,
Flowered head-wreaths ruffle with the waves
Photos of salsa dancers,
Rainbow-dressed children licking ice cream,
A buoyant bride in ivory silk
Hugging papa in his tuxedo
A smoking pipe in his crumpled mouth
Flor de Mayo
Memorial faces in vintage posture
And a rosary
Drifting with the equinox sun
Cornmeal dust blowing with the wind
Simón Bolívar
The Liberator
She saves her tri-coloured flag
Venezuela griping her belly
Maria seals her lips
Sapping her neck with patchouli
Pablito like an ornament in his birth blanket
Asleep with his angels
Fallen overboard
Tumbling with the tides
A moment of silence
(via BMJ)
Only Alejandra sees
The right of asylum
The wrinkles of life
Sags under her eyes
His body disappears
Seagulls levitating in echoing lamentation
Alejandra screams
Her face looks beaten
Glitter is her attire
Everyone is staring
Despondency is contagious
Everyone thinks they understand
But
Nobody understands
Ana is kneeling
Weeping like a cat giving birth
Her face is covered in her first communion veil
Approaching Los Iros
“Oh Estrella de la mañana,
Estrella del mar,
Ayúdame en este momento de dificultad,
Muéstrame que aquí eres mi Madre y consuélame bajo tu divino manto.”
(via Infomigrants)
It is time
They’re coming for her.
Editor’s Note: Anna Levi served as a migrant specialist for UWI-PADF project on the legal and social situation of Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago.
The following is a press statement from the British High Commission in Port of Spain and a response from the Read more
Our national boast is a beautiful one. Here in this republic of the new world, we are perhaps one of Read more
“[...] The refugee crisis in Venezuela was not spawned by any government in T&T, either past or present. We are Read more
“[…] It is no secret that the officers in the Coast Guard are traumatised by the continued accusations from her Read more
“[…] Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar is a former prime minister of T&T, an experienced politician, an aspirant for the office of Read more
The raucous sound of cuatro and maracas spills from a variety store in Arima. A woman in a long wrap Read more
Anna Levi is a novelist who served as a migrant specialist for UWI-PADF project on the legal and social situation of Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago.
Another strong, eloquent statement from the author on the human toll paid by refugees. The whole poem is like a gut punch but one you receive willingly because of the combined truth and beauty… not sure why but the line i cannot get out of my head is about the fisherman boat operators with “Fish scales falling from their beards”… thank you, Anna, and keep on testifying…
Thank you for you plight and commitment towards or boarder neighbours, they try their best in many aspects only to survive, even doing the unthinkable, their hearts are bigger than many others, and even tho we know we can’t accommodate them all, atleast we can share our hearts to them
I think that’s exactly it, Nirmal. We can’t take them all in. But surely we can have some compassion at all times too.
Anna Levi….
Looking forward to your asylum efforts for Haitians, Dominicans and other islands where the population is predominantly BLACK SKINNED AFRICANS!
Let’s not make it as simple as race, international law provides for refugee protections. It must however be said that TT although it signed onto such treaties never enacted them through an act of parliament, without a refugee law they are all basically illegals. So what does that mean? I interpret it as follows, in principle we agree with such protections, in practice however we cannot provide such a service without limitations because we have a small country and small means.
Now we find ourselves confronted with the consequences of US superpower politics on our doorstep. Insane nations wanting to tell another country who their President is, all under the pretense of human rights, no it has nothing to do with the fact that Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the entire world how could anybody even get that idea (sarcasm). Why is our region being flooded with illegal guns made in the USA?
The USA needs to stop it’s sick obsession with Venezuela, a country that never did them nothing. The USA needs to see a psychiatrist to get rid of it’s addiction to war. If the USA can pick Venezuelas President then maybe a couple years from now they will want to pick who is the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados etc. We must never support or encourage superpower power plays.
Why are you looking forward to the author’s asylum efforts for Haitians, Dominicans and other islands where the population is predominantly BLACK SKINNED AFRICANS?
Is it that you feel that the author is biased in her choice of subject which focuses on a situation that affects Trinidad & Tobago?