Small Flowers

At the center of every world

A small flower blooms

Through blood-stained concrete

And thousands of miles of escape

The flower blooms just as bright as the night stars

Where we can dream of

Better lives and peace

Keep our culture without compromise

But it’s hard to find water to grow

When we’re constantly stepped on

Used as talking points

Denied the right to live

After being torn from our soil

Only the community can water our flowers

When the government doesn’t care

Underfunding the schools

Ripping us from the soil

Our families will replant us

And protect us from all threats and seasons

Bring us out into the sun

Where we can blossom anew

Embracing our identity.

Amid all the bigotry

Our small flowers bloom

Through every barrier placed in front of us

The concrete or lack of support

Does not stop or shape us

And with every drop and tear she’d

We will grow

Note from the author:

My poem focuses on refugee youth and highlights the positions that they are often stuck in as they are forced to move and resettle in a new country that may not be as receptive to them or their culture. Over the quarter in Professor Espiritu’s class, I was able to learn and speak to refugee communities about their struggles, as well as how they help and provide for each other as new families call San Diego their home. One experience that influenced my final project was working with Farida Erikat for a group presentation. In interviewing her, I learned about El Cajon refugees and the struggles they go through being located in East County, as well as the Majdal Center and the various programs they provide for refugee students. Seeing how refugee communities help each other when the government fails to step in provided me with the inspiration to write my project.

I use the analogy of refugee youth as flowers to show the potential and growth they present despite what’s thrown their way. Despite attempts from man-made objects that prevent nature from flourishing as it used to, there are still ways and people that allow the flowers to shine to their full potential. As the US government and media have shown, they do not have refugees in their best interest and instead use them as talking points for fear-mongering and victimization. Even if refugees don’t fit the “mold” of someone who lives in the US, this does not mean that they aren’t capable of anything or are here to hurt. Refugees are capable and determined to do all they can to provide for their families and communities in their new homes. As we see refugees mold their new communities and put forward the growth of their youth, we need to understand and be supportive when our systems fail or have biases against refugee communities. I hope that this poems serves as a positive metaphor for helping refugee youth grow and flourish to their fullest potential despite everything they have had to deal with over their young lives.

refugee youth resilience poem