

Promised Land of an Unknown Immigrant
Mahmudul
I worship Athena.
She brought me to London,
My love for wisdom.
A rich university library
Spells me bound.
Yet, I can’t stare at the books for hours
Haunted by tuition fees and regular bills.
I try to do a job
Tolerating regular bullies
I am
Restricted by hour
Restricted by sector
Restricted by category
My hands are tied.
No flexibility.
No job.
No access to public funds.
Job satisfaction – it’s a utopia.
What is left for me?
Bully and harassment on a regular schedule.
Can’t get the bitterness out of my system.
The heat is on I can’t tolerate.
Still study and study – no choice.
Tried to leave
But I can’t as my wife loves the city,
“It will be good for our kids”.
What is left?
Tolerate, tolerate and tolerate.
Spent the juice of my youth over the decade.
Promised land at last!
The price?
It was more than
An arm and a leg.