By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
REFUGEE DEATHS
Over
35,000 men women children
wired to a fence
Each name
a page in earth’s history
spit into fire
devoured by sea
deported
redacted into dust
Over
35,000 men women children
no number for the nameless
wired to a fence
or dissolved by water and salt
because they were born
outside
the borders of privilege
Each name an answer
stamped into shale
leaving me to question
my carbon fingerprint
and surgically sanitized hands
Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).
Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)
- Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
- Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
- Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018
