You American Immigrant!

One of the other ladies who's blogs I enjoy reading is having a blog carnival and I got down to thinking what would I like to contribute - humm? So, here is my "opening act".

You American Immigrant!

You see me in the grocery store. You see me in the mall.
I'm in the public library, and in the school hall.

Often times you pass me by, lost in your own care;
But than you may pause a moment
and stop and stand and stare.
Is it this scarf on my head?
That you can not see my hair?
Is it something my son has said?
(Yeah, the kid in the wheelchair.)

You wonder at our language,
where are you from - oh please do tell!
You have no idea what we're saying,
but you know it's ASL!
"You speak such good English" You tell me oh so candid.
(And I suppose it's this idea you'd never have commanded -
My ancestors were already standing here,
when the Mayflower landed!)

In this current war on terror, you cast a suspicious eye.
There's certain things you think I believe -
Down with America! The infidel must die!
Than it comes to your attention -
some much more disturbing thing;
Amidst the Autistic babble the kid begins to sing:

"I know You've washed me white,
turned my darkness into light,
I need Your peace to get me through -
to get me through this night.
I can't live by what I feel,
but by the truth Your word reveals.
I'm not holding on to You,
but You're holding onto me.

You're holding onto me!

Jesus You know just how far the east is from the west.
I don't have to see the man I've been,
rising up in me again,
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest,
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west,
from one scared hand to the other."

So you scratch your head,
with furled brow and confused frowns.
(Yeah, his favorite band is Casting Crowns.)

You see

There's so many things about me you don't know.
You'd never imagined that I once drove a backhoe!
I know you think I don't even know I'm "oppressed"!
I have no job, no future, no skill?
(I can operate a machine gun -
I know how to kill.)

Than again, I do suppose,
you would have never guessed;
I was in the Navy.
Seabees - we build - we fight.
So many tasks I learned to perform;
from cleaning up after Desert Storm!

So, if I see you out in uniform,
knowing how far some of us did roam.
In memory of those who never made it back -
I shake your hand and say:
"Welcome home!"

(You American Immigrant!)