BROKEN DREAMS

 SHE WAS YOUNG AND FULL OF ENERGY.

I REMEMBER HER FACE. IT REMINDED ME



OF THE MOON SHINING IN THE DARK NIGHT,



LIKE HER BLACK HAIR,



I SAW HER IN THE LAUNDROMAT,



ALL DAY WORKING HARD, WASHING CLOTHES,



SOMETIMES EATING APPLES, NEVER EATING BREAD.



I THOUGHT SHE WAS ON A DIET,



MAYBE SHE DIDN'T  HAVE MONEY,



I FELT SORRY FOR HER WAY OF LIFE, SO HARD, SO TIRING.



ONE DAY SHE SAID SADLY AFTER SHE STAMPED OUT HER CIGARETTE,



" I M NEVER GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT, BUT I'VE LOST MY SMILE.



AFTER TEN YEARS WORKING UNDER THE BOX



I STILL DON'T HAVE A GREEN CARD.



ONE HUNDRED FIFTY A WEEK.



I CAN ONLY PAY MY RENT AND MY BILLS.



I SEE THE DOCTOR ONCE A MONTH.



MY BODY IS DIVIDED IN TWO, ONE HALF IN MY COUNTRY,



THE OTHER HALF IN NEW YORK.



BEFORE I CAME HERE, I SAW AMERICA, IN MY DREAMS, A WORLD LIKE WHAT



I WISHED BEFORE IN THE MOVIES, BLUE JEANS, COCA-COLA, BIG CARS



BIG HOUS WITH SWIMING POOLS, LIKE ON ' DALLAS ' OR 'TOP MODEL '.



NOW; EXCUSE ME, IT IS A TIME TO TAKE MY PILLS,



ONE AFTER BREAKFAST, ONE BEFORE LUNCH, ONE AFTER DINNER



AND ONE I FORGOT, I DON'T KNOW...



BY ABDELLAH AKHDI