Understanding Migrants

In all the time of my self
imposed expatriation no
matter how bad things in
Ireland were at the time
of my departure I could
never justify nor forgive
myself for abandoning a
country that nurtured &
schooled me. There was
constant gnawing of my
soul and sure it t’wasn’t
easy for me either to go
and leave a woman who
saved me, from myself,
but had no desire to be
anywhere but N.Zealand.
It’s when I think torment
I realise that everyone is
like me, we all want to be
at home especially those
of us misfortune enough
not to speak our native
tongue, that is double a
blow not to know where
we are spiritually and it
is this experience which
gives me empathy and
compassion for refugees.
There is no such thing as
an economic migrant, we
Irish had great economic
opportunities abroad but
no matter, some of us are
like the salmon, we will go
through hell to be home
even at the expense of a
lifetime relationship, just
as I have forced my wish
on a woman who has gone
through Limbo to live in a
Purgatory of my making.