The Prime Cutts

If It Were Simply Up To Me

some thoughts on the current debate over immigration

I wish I could throw the door wide open and welcome you inside;

A long and fright’ning journey’s brought you here.

All you seek’s a life that’s better than the one you left behind

For you and all of those that you hold dear.

I’m not sure I could have braved all the dangers you have faced,

In my mind you have earned the chance to settle in this place.

If it were simply up to me . . . but, it’s complicated.

You are not the first to stand there staring through the door;

Some of my kin stood in that spot not so long before.

I know we said we’d lift a lamp to a sanctuary home;

We have our poetry about the tired and poor.

I am afraid that you have heard what some folks say:

That we should lock this door and that you should go away.

Now, if it were simply up to me . . . but, it’s complicated.

For what it’s worth: this home of mine is not everything it seems;

I can show you broken promises, I can show you broken dreams,

Still, if it were simply up to me . . . If it were simply up to me . . . but, it’s complicated.

It’s complicated.