A Young Boy at the Border

Summary

A young boy's harrowing journey towards a border is depicted through a free verse poem, capturing his resilience and fear amidst a perilous desert crossing.

Abstract

The poem "A Young Boy at the Border" paints a vivid picture of a young boy's treacherous journey, likely towards the U.S.-Mexico border. The boy, surrounded by adults whose emotions range from sadness to fear to joy, tries to make sense of his surroundings. His feet ache, and hunger is a constant companion, yet he pushes on, driven by a mix of fear and determination. The darkness of the desert night brings its own terrors, with imagined monsters and the ever-present threat of the Rio Grande. Despite the absence of symbols of freedom like the Statue of Liberty, the boy and his mother press on, hiding and silently navigating the harsh landscape. The poem is a poignant reflection on the human side of migration, highlighting the struggle and resilience of those who seek a better life against all odds.

Opinions

The poem suggests that the journey is filled with uncertainty and danger, as the boy grapples with fear and the unknown.
The absence of Lady Liberty at the border symbolizes a stark contrast between the idealized image of immigration and the harsh realities faced by migrants.
The boy's ability to push through hunger and fatigue showcases his resilience and the desperation that drives such journeys.
The Rio Grande is personified as a hungry entity, emphasizing the natural obstacles that migrants must overcome.
The silence and stealth required during the journey reflect the need for invisibility and the risks involved in being detected.
The mother's silent crying and the boy's instinct to hide convey the emotional toll and the constant state of alertness necessary for survival.

a free verse poem

He has heard the grown-ups talking in hushed, hurried whispers. Some of them are crying — though he can’t tell if they are sad, or scared, or happy. it all looks the same now

his feet ache and the dirt itches inside his shoes

hunger gnaws at him be he’s learned to ignore that, push the feeling down, down into his legs to help will them to move

he is not afraid of the dark he is afraid of what’s out there in the dark, behind, ahead, all around, even in sleep

there are monsters in the desert

you be quiet, he listens, mute day into mute night he walks

the border doesn’t look like he imagined he doesn’t even see Lady Liberty there

she could be hiding in the dark maybe she is behind the fence maybe she was swept away maybe she did not have a raft

the Río Bravo del Norte as hungry as ever swallowing the ones who forget to swim fast.

He wants to sit down. He wants to take off his shoes. He wants to sleep. Instead — in the scrub face in the dirt hide, quickly! Shhhh! Shhhh!

The boy’s mother is crying without sound, eyes wide, gathering moonlight.

Christina Ward 🍁🌲 is a poet and nature writer from North Carolina. Her work has been featured in the Cameo literary magazine, the Arrowhead literary magazine, Vita Brevis Poetry Magazine, and in Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine. She is currently working on her first poetry chapbook.