I am a migrant, but.

I am a migrant amongst migrants but

I don’t have to beg

borrow

or prove myself

I don’t have to

stand in the cold

waiting with hope

for someone to let me pass

 

I am a migrant but

I walked right in

blue passport in hand

while they welcomed me with nothing more than

a look and a reminder to pay my taxes

 

I am a migrant but

no one questions whether

I should be here or

can assimilate or

find a job or

become one of them

 

I am a migrant but

when I walk down the street

surrounded by my countrymen

heads covered from the cold

no one spits or says

we don’t belong here

 

I am a migrant but

when the borders tighten

I am not who politicians say

we are protecting ourselves from

I will not inspire policies

meant to keep the other people who look vaguely like me safe

and the ones who don’t, out

 

I am a migrant but

by total chance of birth

I will never have to argue

why I deserve to live.