Amnesty, POEM by Nancy Shiffrin

AMNESTY by Nancy Shiffrin The Vast Unknowing, Infinity Publishing, BN.com

“for what must I be forgiven?”
Lucia walked from Guatemala was shot
at the Mexican border returned again and again
until she could bribe her way North
she sits in my 6 A.M. class struggling
to tell her story I write her tales
on the board refuse to correct grammar
want voice hands sturdy feet
weight of eight years of hiding

soon I must teach
simple present present continuous
how many stars in the flag what the stripes stand for
the students must
know address social security alienation number
repeat names in the same sequence each time
demonstrate comprehension of democracy
to men who want to deport them

“for what must I be forgiven?” Lucia repeats
yet knocks on the classroom door at 5:45 eager
to speak of the mother who ripped her dress
the women whose babies she bathes
the husband who waits for her with flowers
the other students copy her story dictate theirs
all study capitals periods commas question marks
what is simple what continues
are the sweets they offer their grouchy teacher
who leads them sardonically through the Pledge
who obsesses with them on amendments and laws
who is just as terrified as they
of the Test for Naturalization
who would not forgive if one were sent back

Nancy Shiffrin’s collection of love poems GAME WITH VARIATIONS is
available at
http://www.unibook.com/en/Nancy-Shiffrin/GAME-WITH-VARIATIONS
http://www.shopmybooks.com/BE/en/book/nancy-shiffrin/game-variations
“Nancy Shiffrin’s writing is lean, sensitive, erotic. She celebrates the
female body with a rare vigor.” Robert Peters

Books and services are available directly from Nancy
Nancy Shiffrin 1112 Montana Avenue #636
Santa Monica, CA 90403 310.463.6722
http://home.earthlink.net/~nshiffrin
nshiffrin@earthlink.net

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Deadline for POETRY Festival – Get your poem made into a MOVIE and seen by 1000s. Three options to submit:
http://www.wildsound.ca/poetrycontest.html

WATCH this month’s poetry readings performed by professional actors:
http://www.wildsoundfestival.com/april_2015_poetry_readings.html