Gina Williams

JUSTICIA


Fragments of letters written by mothers detained by U.S. Immigration authorities and separated from their children in Texas, 2018 

 

Soy Antonia,                                       

I am worried

                                                may Dios 

            bless you

Soy ____________,

my story began                                                           many mothers suffering. 

Para mi hijo Deyvid,

                                    It hurts

to miss                                                 

I want

to hold you

            my gordo precioso                              (precious pumpkin)

They took my son                               put him in an ice box

my identification number is ___________.

Help us—                    por favor.

Mi nombre es Yasmin,

            Handcuffed and shackled

missing my girls                                 they send me to the dog pound.

Necesito de su ayuda                                      please return

my son.                       Mi declaraciòn es,

help
                                     help
help
                                    My declaration is,       help

help
                                     help

Soy ___________,

The injustice.                          They move me to the dog kennel.

Chain us by feet and hands.

They take away my medicine.

My cousin’s number is ____________. 

I
know
that
God
is
a
God
of
justice

I love you, my son.                 

Don’t— 

be sad.

 

Gina Williams is a freelance journalist, gardener, former wildland firefighter, and visual artist. The author of An Unwavering Horizon, a full-length collection of poetry published in 2020 (Finishing Line Press), her writing and visual art have been featured most recently by Moss, River Teeth, FRAMES Magazine, J. Mane Gallery, Electric Lit, Carve, and The Sun, among others. She holds degrees in journalism and strategic communication from the University of Oregon. Gina lives and creates near Portland, Oregon with her best friend and fellow poet, husband Brad Garber.

Learn more about Gina and her work at https://ginamariewilliams.com/