The Perilous Lives of S.S. and Ms. L

Ms. L and her daughter, S.S., six years old and sweet,
arrived legally in San Diego,
their port of entry.

Fleeing violence “facing near certain death” in the Congo…
Give me your tired, your poor…
“She has a genuine fear.

She is not a criminal. Not a terrorist. She needs help…”
wrote the officer interviewing her.
From her beacon-hand

glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command…
She followed correct procedure for an asylum seeker.
Four days after arrival

they came to take away S.S.
But why?
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

After S.S. was out of sight down the all
white corridor and screaming for
her mother, Ms. L

was handcuffed.
“The poem you’re referring to was added
later and is not part of the original Statue of Liberty…”

S.S. will have
her seventh birthday in a holding pen a thousand miles from
her mother in a foreign country. They

have spoken on the phone six times.
Never on Skype or video. Each time they
speak, the girl sobs. Ms. L,

according to authorities,
is eligible for the long asylum
process —