Tuesday 19 April 2016

The Immigrants (April 19, 2016)

The stormy Atlantic
They came.

By the thousands
They arrived
In pursuit
Of prosperity.

Seeking
A brighter tomorrow
For themselves
And children.

Leaving behind
The known troubles
For an unknown future.

Dreams of land
Filled their eyes
And hearts.

Never knowing
Or realizing
The ordeals
That await them.

In building
A continent
From the ground up.

Through
Their blood sweat
And tears.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: Many North Americans, can trace their family tree, back to the 19th century, and the flood of European immigrants, lure here, by the promise of land, and a brighter future, from their native country. My Scottish ancestors came to Canada, on these promises, settling in, eastern Ontario and western Quebec.


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17 comments:

brudberg said...

And for us who are the ancestors of those who stayed it changed as well.. So many have relatives in the new world... I think around 25 percent of the population left from Sweden,

Therisa's World said...

Never realized that many people left Sweden, in pursuit of a new dream, Bjorn.

Stacy M.S. said...

thoroughly enjoyed this read.
you put it so well, how hard our fellow ancestors worked. how brave they were to set off into a new life, a life of unknowables.

i'm proud of the forefathers of this country.

great write. and thank you for writing with me at dverse today! :)

Victoria Ceretto-Slotto said...

I also can trace my history back to the founding fathers in USA...you write of the courage of our forebears so well. Victoria

Grace said...

As an immigrant myself, I can relate to the challenges of rebuilding and starting again with blood and sweat ~

I can trace my ancestors from Sweden too ~

Therisa's World said...

Thank you, Stacy Lynn, for your kind and generous compliment. And your welcome.

Therisa's World said...

Thank you, Victoria, this is, the highest compliment, you can give me.

Therisa's World said...

My opa and oma, with 9 of their 10 children, came to Canada, in June 1952. One of them, being my dad, as 16 year old. Had they waited an year, the Canadian government would have paid for their passage, to Canada. They settled, in northern Alberta, talk about culture shock, give the weather, they left behind, in The Nederland.

De Jackson said...

Blood, sweat...and I'm sure also some tears. Like this.

Sanaa Rizvi said...

Beautifully expressed..!

Therisa's World said...

Darn, knew I forgot something. Thanks, De, for reminding me. Just not sure, how to correct this. Sigh.

Therisa's World said...

Hope, this patch works.

Waltermarks said...

Many happy dreams were dashed, and some prospered. Some folks still come here hoping for a better life, eh? Thank you for the reminder how precious our heritage is!

Bodhirose said...

I see you added the tears...very well done. I'm sure there were many of them going through such hardships. Thanks for such a meaningful writing and I enjoyed reading about your ancestors who settled into a new home so far from their origins.
Gayle ~

lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.com said...

Especially love these words:

"building
A continent
From the ground up.

Through
Their blood sweat
And tears."

Considering that this land was preoccupied when the pilgrims arrived, other than Native Americans, we are all immigrants. Something, dare I get political, that certain presidential nominees in the US should remember.
Oops -- I rarely do that -- must be too much news for me! :(

Pleasant Street said...

I never considered that side of the story....That is some history worth looking into

Pleasant Street said...

Many immigrants in my family. I enjoyed this very much

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