This is AMERICA

They crowded me, big men, brown men to each side, 

I offered my armrests, as I am but a small person in the middle seat.

Victor had seen dead bodies at the side of the road at age six

(Running from home to school in El Salvador) before escaping to 

AMERICA.

And EdGAR, (he says to accent the second syllable) headed North as well, to 

AMERICA.

Guatemala offered nothing and papa was dead.

Their bodies took up space and their words filled the cabin

With stories of escape and deliverance, the deep rumble of their

Trucks on American highways, the smell of the loads of recycled cardboard,

How the young truckers don't respect anymore, stealing gas and materials from 

Others.

Victor shared fantastic tales of Tribulation of the religious variety, 

EdGAR of tribulation of the difficulty of renewing his truck license in California.

This is 

AMERICA, 

Where anything is possible, anyone is possible, anywhere is possible

As long as you are present to see it, hear it, feel it.

this is AMERICA.