Pantoum for Young Girls at a Bridge in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, 2019

            In response to Lori Schreiner’s At the Border, Waiting and an article by 
            Azam Ahmed and Kirk Semple

Behind you, fabric churns like an ocean.                                         
Your blurred faces lean close for warmth, 
closer to soothe the struggle to seek asylum.
You clutch the yellow-orange blanket from home.

Your blurred faces lean close for warmth, closer to the 
artist who paints your journey despite how cruelty rules.
You clutch the yellow-orange blanket from home
that can’t help you cross that bridge to second chances.

Artist paints your journey despite how cruelty rules
but doesn’t know the weight of displacement, how you both 
can’t help but want to cross that bridge to second chances,
leave a country feared, homeland lost to violent ways.

I don’t know the weight of displacement but see how you 
both sit stiff with sorrow, soothe the struggle to seek 
asylum, leave a country feared, homeland lost to violent 
ways. Behind you, fabric churns like an ocean.

At the Border, Waiting in response to Meredith Kuht’s NY Times photo. Artist: Lori Schreiner

Theresa Senato Edwards has published 3 poetry books—1, with painter Lori Schreiner, winning The Tacenda Literary Award—and 2 chapbooks. Nominated twice for a Pushcart, once for Best of the Net, and once for Best Small Fictions, Edwards is also owner, publisher, & EIC of American Poetry Journal as of April 2025. Her website is http://www.theresasenatoedwards.com.

Lori Schreiner is a social worker, writer, and painter. Her writing has appeared in The Best of Write Action No. 1 and 2. Her paintings have been shown in New York City, The Windham Art Gallery, and other local venues in Vermont. In addition to her creative pursuits, Lori supervises the children’s program at a community mental health clinic in Vermont and is currently a member of the Brattleboro West Arts Association. Her website is www.lorischreiner.com.