Dreamer

The members of my writing group had a write-in this weekend at the home of my former Regis University instructor. We started the day by responding to prompts in five-minute intervals. One of the prompts was "Dreamer."  Here's my response:

Dreamer

You came as a child - not an anchor baby but a projectile
Launching your family into stratospheres of
New country, language, culture
All for you.
The education! they said.
The opportunity! they said.
The safety (lack of guns, independent local police)! they said.
Study hard, speak the language, strive for
Higher education, schools of suburban elite with
Their laptops, BMW's, shiny blue passports.
Aim high, earn in-state tuition, work odd jobs for cash,
Dare the American dream.
When did the glowing facade dissolve?
When scholarship money was denied or
When your job offers disappeared or
When your parents hid from the threat of deportation?
When the information you volunteered for one president,
A dreamer himself,
Formed a dragnet for the next,
Who put the ceiling on your stratosphere.