Captured by Silence by Hedgiee
"A piece of paper would not heal these/ lacerations of melee induced by the/ battles of undocumentedness."
This week, we are sharing a poem by Hedgiee, who writes:
This poem explores the dehumanization and identity struggles of undocumented immigrants, critiquing societal and political manipulation while asserting their dignity and humanity.
Captured by Silence
Headlines: Overachiever Dreamers;
The power of a good immigrant story.
We are more than laws and legislation.
A piece of paper would not heal these
lacerations of melee induced by the
battles of undocumentedness.
The media called me a "Dreamer,"
A thing that creates collective
wokeness,
Yet leaves me standing halfway into the
door of us/US—I called it home.
A deferred American dream, weighed
down by burnt-out hopes.
Filled with toasted caps because
overachievement must be proof “I exist.”
But what of those still struggling?
So, craft a good immigrant narrative
but…
"Llorales a moco tendido"
As if my traumas aren't proof enough to
consider myself a human.
I want to claim my humanity so bad
before the illegality of their darkest
fears,
Imposing this brand of identity:
Alien, Illegal, Wetback…
Stripping away the very essence of my
being, forcing to reject my own
reflection, turning me into a thing,
No longer a human.
The sound of my voice was stripped
away,
Replaced by their own, loud and
dismissive,
Always overlooking my silent presence.
This hope of existence, they declare
illegal.
But it disappears once I claim—I exist
Justifying this very existence in their
courts of law.
Unable to claim my own identity
I have been plagiarized, mistaken, taken
away, expurgated, absorbed, and
murdered.
"Are you still undocumented, right?"
As if this branding was something to wear proudly.
Rejecting to look down
At this arrogant and pomposity
branding.
I am not a bargaining chip in this
political game,
Not a story to be highlighted for their
gain.
I realized now—
Not everyone was in my boat.
I was scandalous, anarchist, choleric,
But a root and branch
In the delicate world of "Us."
US, I called it home.
So I became a weaver of words,
threading this language to make only a
few weapons I need to fight along.
(Rupturing my vocal cords, tearing away
this silence).
"Undocumented,
Unafraid,
Unashamed
Unapologetic.”
#ABOLISHICE—and the asseveration of
Dehumanization.
But these campaigns are not on
concrete, lacking action and
empowerment.
If you truly support me,
I want you to understand that
This fight is not about you.
If you truly support me,
We are losing this battle
When you tell me to stay silent.
Propina
For more work from Hedgiee, visit Hedgieewrites as well as undocustories.com
You can also read some of Hedgiee’s other work for La Cuenta here:
Well see you next week.