‘Uninvited Guest’: A Poem on Immigration, by Warren Bonham

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Uninvited Guest

A man came by my house one day.
I smiled and said he couldn’t stay.
He smiled right back and said “OK,”
but then he didn’t go away.

Instead, he walked right through my door
and put his clothes inside a drawer.
He took the room least often used
and then he just laid down and snoozed.

At first, of course, I was surprised,
but that was when I realized
that though I owned my bungalow,
I had no right to make him go.

Illegal is a hurtful name.
Although it’s true it causes shame.
The label that described him best
was as an Uninvited Guest.

I let him stay but I confess
the cost became a source of stress.
Apart from that I didn’t care.
I barely knew that he was there.

A month went by, or maybe two,
then he called everyone he knew.
As they arrived, I screened each one,
but I was quickly overrun.

I thought perhaps I’d build a fence,
but then thought that might cause offense.
So as the line grew more and more,
instead I just removed my door.

Although some guests brought Fentanyl,
I was assured that overall,
despite small crimes now and again,
my guests were mostly noble men.

That may be true, but I can’t tell
since I don’t track them very well.
I do not know who comes or goes
or count them as their number grows.

My house now full, as is my lawn.
My bank account is overdrawn.
My actions worthy without doubt,
but now I think that I’ll move out.

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Warren Bonham is a private equity investor who lives in Southlake, Texas.