Travelers

Journeys through life

Photo by Mantas Hesthaven on Unsplash

We label them immigrants,  
those who journey across borders,  
suitcases filled with dreams and hopes,  
carrying their cultures‘ weight 
that shadow-dance in their wake.  
They traverse oceans, mountains,  
the unknown, searching for a place  
where they can lay down roots;
yet their journey’s essence
mirrors our own.  

Consider the man,  
anchored in his childhood house,  
his laughter echoing through its walls,  
stories etched into the very air he breathes.  
He knows neighborhood streets,  
his neighbors, shop owners,
knows when someone new ventures in;
each new day, each connection made, 
a station in his life’s journey,
moments spent dragging his baggage,
longing to belong.
Time nudges him,  
reminding him that permanence is an illusion,  
that every season shifts,  
and eventually, he too, will say goodbye  
to the home that embraced him.  

And what of the woman in the park,  
feeding the birds with a smile,  
her eyes reflecting the wisdom of years,  
countless souls who have crossed her path?  
She watches as life unfolds around her—  
children racing, lovers whispering,  
each moment a fleeting brushstroke  
on the canvas of her days.  
They come, they go, like waves on the shore,  
leaving only sea foam and bubbles—
soft imprints of their presence—
reminding her that connection is transient,  
and yet beautiful in its impermanence.  

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,  
marks us as migrants in this world,  
inhabiting spaces never truly ours,  
even when we stay rooted for years.  

As we wander, let us recognize  
the spirit of migration within us,  
longing for connection,  
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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