Immigrant’s Mnemonic

I arrived an alien now.
In a different culture,
will I lack nurture or admittance? I don’t share
religion, rites, in spite of rights with you.

My language languishing as a body of language.
My posture’s particular and off-putting to yours.
Still scores of words, my tongue tastes them all,
weird as you.

My admission? I refuse to admit that I am starved
for refuge.

Published in Topical Poetry, January 2023