Cher Holt-Fortin
Ellis Island
The great Protestant madonna,
sternly overlooks her harbor,
with no promise of intercession,
so unlike the Lady of Brindisi Harbor
who graced my arrival in Italy.
A young bride,
running from my past,
but going nowhere,
unlike the millions and millions
who flooded onto this island,
seeking grace and mercy,
praying to the strange Mother
in a language she did not yet know.
On this day,
Ana, so recently come from Romania,
Filip, born here,
J who arrived from India
at another port,
and I, whose ancestors came before immigration,
processing, or exams, whose people simply arrived
and put down roots,
friends from three continents,
gaze out at Manhattan
standing in the Lady’s shadow
Cher Holt-Fortin writes in central New York. She gardens, quilts and practices aikido when
she isn't writing. She likes best to travel. Her most recent long trip was to China where she
did manage to climb the Great Wall. In the photo she is the one standing.
Home
Issue Three
Ellis Island
The great Protestant madonna,
sternly overlooks her harbor,
with no promise of intercession,
so unlike the Lady of Brindisi Harbor
who graced my arrival in Italy.
A young bride,
running from my past,
but going nowhere,
unlike the millions and millions
who flooded onto this island,
seeking grace and mercy,
praying to the strange Mother
in a language she did not yet know.
On this day,
Ana, so recently come from Romania,
Filip, born here,
J who arrived from India
at another port,
and I, whose ancestors came before immigration,
processing, or exams, whose people simply arrived
and put down roots,
friends from three continents,
gaze out at Manhattan
standing in the Lady’s shadow
Cher Holt-Fortin writes in central New York. She gardens, quilts and practices aikido when
she isn't writing. She likes best to travel. Her most recent long trip was to China where she
did manage to climb the Great Wall. In the photo she is the one standing.
Home
Issue Three
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Chickenpinata
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| issue three |
