To my friend with a Ph.D. in Microbiology who works the night shift at Walmart

by Jamie Alm, in response to the prompt, "Write a poem about the beautiful souls you know who have immigration as part of their story” 

You know the inner workings 
of cells. You have studied the mysteries 
of bacteria and fungi like a child 
uncovering hidden treasures, 
endless delights. And I see you 

stacking boxes of nerf guns under incandescent flickering lights. 

You seek the mysteries 
of Allah through the glorious 
microscope. You praise the majesty 
of His universe as you ponder 
the stars. And I see you 

clocking in to your eight hour shift of shuttling and sorting and sighing. 

I know only a hint of your hopes 
for professorship. I hear 
only whispers of the research 
projects in Kirkuk 
left unfinished. And I see you 

clocking out of such ambitions, confronting the harsh realities of today. 

You have lived a dissertation 
on the gravity dynamics 
of surrender. You have earned 
the diploma of displacement, 
dreams deferred. And I see you 

showing up again today, 

cradling your cup of 
cardamom tea alongside 
a vision of your son’s 
future, that still feels 
an ocean away.

This poem was written by Jamie Alm from our online writing community, and is shared with permission. You can follow more of her writing on social media under the handle @quotidianmystic. If you would like to connect with us about contributing poems or essays for our blog or social media, please fill out this interest form.