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--chosen-work--
2025 Harraga
Who are they who burn?
They burn the driftwood of the alien shore
plastic wrapping of their meagre goods makes
acrid smoke of cooking fires in camps
they burn the siphoned petrol in their lamps
They burn their papers at the border posts
even burn their hands that none can correlate
their records
and do not share the edicts of the state
they burn to see their children clothed and fed
but die and leave them anguished and alone
in countries where humanity is dead
in shattered cities whence the parents fled
they burn with longing and are brave and dare
to take the torpid skiffs top-heavy in the swell
others burn with anger where immigrants would stay
they burn hotels where refugees are housed
pray Christ please help them when
welcomed here by gallant Manvers Men
they burn the stubble in the autumn field