Woman of the Ship

Young woman of the ship

Ellis Island American Newborn

I am an American

no one cared,

and they used her sweat to

arm shirts and

leg pants for forty years.

She was happy with her garden

and with the memory of the man

who left her with three kids

speaking only Yiddish

and never fair to the man who took his place.

She died alone

holding her photographs

The only thing I can remember of her

is her telling me not to whistle

 

“It’s impolite.”

 

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