Ice Sestina

Winter months appear colder.

This is normal for winters, but not in the way the temperature rises.

Some say it’s global warming, climate change.

Others say that’s how winter is—fluctuating.

Nobody was prepared for the heavy snow.

For the troubles, and uncertainty.

No one was prepared for the flakes of uncertainty.

Executive orders of death cold.

Famine and anguish—mere consequences of tainted snow.

Snow accumulates faster than salt can melt it. With the snow, ICE rises.

Communities try to find a place to shelter from this vile thing as their rights stay fluctuating.

Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but they know their fate will change.

ICE, a death sentence for those chanting “change.”

ICE finds you in your home, leaving no room for uncertainty.

Be careful; don’t trip over it, don’t fluctuate.

Held by the uniformed black ICE, your body cold.

No warnings will be given; chains break wrists as your pain rises.

Remember before ICE, it was snow.

Repeat your rights like a broken record, covered in heavy snow.

The things you learned to keep yourself safe when the cold approaches a fighter of change.

Efforts of helping you will be futile once you’re in their fridge on wheels, and your fear rises.

Ask for a lawyer, ask for an attorney, with certainty.

“How did I end up here?” Home is cold.

Maybe if you hadn’t gone to work that morning, you wouldn’t be here—fluctuating.

As the fridge on wheels keeps hitting every road bump, your mind is still in a daze—fluctuating.

A few days of sun, now the white building is covered in snow.

Then papers were signed, laws were passed, and your life remained cold.

You heard it on the news, you saw it on your streets, yet you thought nothing would change.

Your wife was uncertain.

It couldn’t possibly happen to you; you would leave before the problem rises.

Still chained to black ICE, you see the light as your hope rises.

Your pleas for justice were ignored, your case stayed fluctuating.

You were forced to walk around an airport with your new shoes, uncertainly.

They took you where the sun shone brighter, no snow.

The engines of the airplanes an abrupt change.

Others board the same plane, chains against your wrist are cold.

Cold sorrow like doubt rises.

You voted for change, yet your rights are fluctuating.

This all started with heavy snow, but no one was ready for uncertainty