Not to Conquer

They come —

not to conquer;

not with guns and bombs,

or greedy eyes that

seek to steal our

forefathers’ land

and conceal it beneath

steel and concrete monstrosities

squeezing the people into

arid corners, as our

vainglorious

forbears

did.

They come —

not to conquer,

but to escape the

place of death

and hate.

They come —

not to conquer,

but simply

to live.

They come —

finite bodies

suffering and dying

that some may find

a better life.

They arrive

hungry and broken —

so let them in.

.

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©Jane Paterson Basil