The Truth About Tigers

A harsh, desolate, unforgiving land,
beautiful in the way things with the power to destroy often are.
The nights come on suddenly, the chill embellishing the actual temperature,
while throughout the scorching days,
the sun appears to inch ever closer to the earth,
a returning Mayan deity descending from Omeyocan,
reclaiming dominion over his ancient empire.

The animals who call this place home are rugged,
low-slung, and tenacious.
Armadillos and coyotes, snakes and lizards,
bristly javelina darting amid scrub brush in small packs.
Overhead, the caracara and vultures,
ever-watchful winged predators of the heavens,
glide gracefully, lazily upon ascending thermals.

The native flora seems overly defensive, if not outright aggressive,
shrouded in wicked spikes and thorns,
ready and willing to draw blood from any intruder
foolish or careless enough to venture too near.
A patchwork of honey mesquite and desert yaupon,
shifting caliche soils spotted with prickly pear and acacia,
yielding to dusty, windswept grasslands,
stretching, rolling, unraveling
beyond the wide, muddy river,
unfolding into eternity.

Here, in this desiccated place, liquid is a luxury,
the continually broken pledge of briefly gathering rain gods,
a dream that almost seems real,
a distant mirage shimmering on the horizon,
urging weary travelers to outlast death just a while longer,
as they traverse the aborted paths
of those who stumbled and faltered,
of those who sat to rest, one final time.

And so one step follows another,
having long since passed beyond the point of safe return,
Always North now, in search of salvation,
a silent prayer echoing in an anguished soul,
a small brown hand tightly clutching her own,
a fragile promise of reassurance passing parched lips,
attempting to shield him from the doubt growing in her own heart.

© Nicholas Allison, 2024

This poem is inspired by the arduous journeys of migrants, who traverse harsh and unforgiving landscapes in search of a better life. Their paths are fraught with peril, and the high death toll along the border serves as a grim reminder of the immense challenges they face. Each lost life is a testament to the urgent need for compassionate and humane solutions to the migration crisis. While I’m not advocating for completely open borders and don’t pretend to have all the answers, I do believe in recognizing the humanity of those seeking a better life. Putting politics aside, we must address their plight with compassion. To learn more and support efforts to address this issue, please visit Border Angels, an organization dedicated to advocating for humane immigration reform and assisting migrants in need.

Siempre Norte, was first published by Wax Poetry and Art Mag Issue 4, on May 15th, 2024, as part of the Socially Engaged Poetry Contest Number 9. I am grateful to the editors for featuring my work.