We label them immigrants, those who journey across borders, dreams and hopes packed in a suitcase, carrying their cultures’ weight that shadow-dance in their wake. They traverse oceans, mountains, the unknown, looking for a place where they can put down roots; yet their journey’s essence mirrors our own. Consider the man, anchored in his childhood house, which resounded with his hearty laughter, tales carved into the air he breathes. He knows neighborhood streets, his neighbors, shop owners, knows when someone new enters; every new day, every encounter, one of the way-stations in his journey, moments spent dragging his baggage, longing to belong. Time nudges him, reminding him that eternity is a lie, that every season shifts, and in the end, he will also leave the house that took him in. And the woman in the park, smiling as she feeds the birds, her eyes reflecting the wisdom of years, countless souls who have crossed her path? She’s witness to life being lived around her: children racing, lovers whispering, each moment a fleeting brushstroke on the canvas of her days. They arrive and depart, like waves on the beach, sea foam and bubblings, their presence soft imprints reminding her that connection is fleeting, and still, in its transience, wonderful. We are all travelers, drifting through landscapes of time; our bodies vessels of memories, our hearts repositories of stories. Each interaction, brief encounter, shared glance, soft laugh, distinguishes us as pilgrims in this world, inhabiting spaces never truly ours, even though we grow, and stay planted for years. While we wander, let us acknowledge, the migrant in us, longing for connection, a desire for understanding. Whether we roam this earth or remain in one place, we are bound by threads of shared humanity, by currents of experience that shape our lives. In this understanding, let us embrace our journeys, stories we carry, paths we tread. For in the end, we are all passing through, participants in this grand narrative, where every heart beats in rhythm, and every soul seeks a home.
Life’s journey shows us daily that we’re all immigrants, newcomers to each day.
My life’s journey is a collection of transient moments, each a souvenir of experience. Every brief happiness, every meeting, is a reminder of my impermanent existence, a journey shared with others seeking purpose and connection.
This insight makes me more grateful for small things—smiles, sunrises, each breath—symbols of our shared humanity that bind us together on life’s winding road.
Author’s Note
This poem, Travelers, was awarded a medallion for poetry and featured in Top in Fiction.
My award-winning book of poetry and prose, The Edges, is available in digital and paperback formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo.
Upcoming…
January’s writing prompt:
One Hundred-Word Wonders, 15 January 2025
For those who want a head start, this month’s theme and prompt word: JUDGMENT. Write in exactly 100 words, a story, poem, or creative non-fiction in any genre, using the theme, prompt word, or both. Pieces should be exactly 100 words, no more or less. The 100-word count does not include the title. Hold your piece until the 15th!
New Book: Immigrant Dreams
Immigrant Dreams, a collection of 33 poems celebrating the resilience and hope of those who dare to dream beyond borders, is now available for preorder in digital and paperback formats.
PAID subscribers ONLY: please DM or email (caro.e.henry@gmail.com) me your contact information for ONE free, signed paperback copy.
Publication Date: January 17, 2025.
Preorder at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple | Tolino | Vivlio | Smashwords | Fable
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That first stanza reminds me of Carol Rumens’ The Border Builder 🌸