Through a Wall of Tears

Marilyn Robitaille  

November 3, 2020

Let’s say their names through a wall of tears 

Moisés Alberto Ortego Valdivia 

Jessica Carolina Pavon Pavon 

They arrive at our border  

Fresh from torture and fear 

From heartache and tears, from black nights 

Days of sorrow, fatigue, things that crawl 

Aching for possibility, to live a life 

Brim full, mourning the country lost 

Dictator, death squads, disaster  

Nicaragua, beautiful and lush 

Green mountains, rich earth, dark coffee 

Dreams laced for love and family 

Political activists rubbed against the grain 

They tried it all, marching and chanting     

Rampage in the streets, calls for action 

College graduates, they believe 

In human rights and liberty 

Grim reapers know their names now 

They outwit authorities, set the compass North 

Asylum. Asylum. Asylum. 

Let’s whisper the word through a wall of tears 

They’ve heard of Texas and Ted Cruz 

The demon, snake-tongued politician 

Mouthed his appreciation in a speech  

For freedom-fighting Nicaraguans  

He didn’t mean it 

But they reached the Texas promised land 

Then caged, dehumanized, unheard, dismantled 

Trump put them on a plane  

Sent them back to where they came from  

Back to their executioners and certain death 

He didn’t care 

Pray for a miracle they’re not found today 

Let’s all pray through a wall of tears  

This American Life’s “The Walls Close In” episode 721 (aired October 23, 2020) features the story of Moisés Alberto Ortego Valdivia and Jessica Carolina Pavon Pavon in “Act I: The People Up the Stairs” by Kevin Sieff.  

Marilyn Robitaille teaches English at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. She is founding co-editor of Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas and co-hosts the Langdon Review Weekend festival. Her work has appeared in a variety of poetry anthologies. Fifty Poems and Images (Romar Press 2019), her book of illustrated poetry, has been featured in interactive poetry readings and gallery exhibits.