Poem: Original Dreamers

Poem: Original Dreamers

By Xico González

Art Group: Revoltoso
This poem was written to acknowledge the original dreamers; the parents and older siblings of the individuals that qualify for the DREAM Act. I created to posters that were used at immigrants’ rights rallies in Sacramento, and those posters inspired this poem. I read this poem at rallies and marches in Sacramento, at a DREAMers’ conference, and at poetry reading in Sacramento and in Davis, CA.
Illustration by Sacramento Immigration Alliance.

Original Dreamers

Xico González, C/S

In the immigrants’ rights movement
often times we hear of the Dreamers
with their graduations gowns
fists in the air
and beautiful butterflies

Marchas, rallies and sit-ins
that lead to deportations
Sacrificios de sueños soñados

In senators’ offices
self-sacrificing dreamers
get arrested and deported
to prove a point:
the US immigration system is broken

For the dreamers,
la escuela o los guachos
Dos caminos
that end in papeles and green cards

Let me ask you a question,
what about the original dreamers?
Who speaks for them nowadays?

They have sueños too

Have we forgotten about the
padres, madres
hermanos y hermanas
that came to the US too old to go to school
or join the armed forces

They have sueños too

Pero le tubieron que chingar
In low paying jobs
como los files, la construcción, los hoteles,
rich people’s homes, and restaurants

You know the ones bumping
cumbias, norteñas, banda y racheras
in the kitchen
the ones that yell,

“Apurate güey,”
“ya esta listo güey,”
“No mames güey,”

They have sueños too,

They dreamed that their children
will have a better life in this country
instead of discrimination and exploitation

They have sueños too

Migra raids at workplaces
that lead to deportations
Sacrificio de sueños soñados

For the original dreamers,
el trabajo y la explotación
Dos caminos
que los llevan al miedo y a las sombras

They have sueños too

Jesús
El jóven que trabaja en la construcción en la Bahía
has dreams too

María
La señora que cuida güeritos en Hollywood Hills
has dreams too

Jóse
El señor que trabaja en los files del Valle de San Joaquín
has dreams too

So let us help the original dreamers
dream their dreams of a better future
without the fear of being deported,
Exploited and used

Next time you hear of the Dreamers
think of their parents and siblings
because they share the same dream
They have sueños too.

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