Emigration Song

The northbound trains
promised a chance of redemption
to the reconstruction army
whose sunburnt backs had know
the cold sweat of factories
On the foreign cities pavements
angels and devils played dice
for my people’s souls
but when they turned the light off
with their empty tears as friends
they were alone against everyone
and longed for their return.

He came
across the ocean
now he works in a restaurant
once he went to the station
with a case full of hope
when he heard my grandpa’s story
he smiled with thoughts of home
and his return
was a great joy.