"The Immigrants - Battery Park NYC" by Raphael Isla
Columbus Day, celebrated on October 12 in the United States and in other countries around the world, pays tribute to Christopher Columbus, who arrived America in 1492. This date also commemorates the Italian Heritage Day, and the Columbus Day Parade in New York City famously pays homage to the contributions Italians made to the United States.
Over four million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1880 and 1924, and today Italian ancestry is the fifth largest ethnic group in this country.
The following poem, written by the renowned American poet, essayist and feminist, Adrienne Rich (May 16, 1929-March 27, 2012), discusses the difficult choices and subsequent risks immigrants must face when deciding to leave their native lands in search of a new home.
First read the poem all the way through, taking notes of unfamiliar words. Next, look up the words and reread the poem.
Prospective Immigrants Please Note
Either you will
go through this door
or you will not go through.
If you go through
there is always the risk
of remembering your name.
Things look at you doubly
and you must look back
and let them happen.
If you do not go through
it is possible
to live worthily
to maintain your attitudes
to hold your position
to die bravely
but much will blind you,
much will evade you,
at what cost who knows?
The door itself makes no promises.
It is only a door.