Azorean Immigration

by Fernando Nunes

They sailed away from verdant islands

In search of chocolate and new clothes

Raced around in sports cars, and

Abandoned the farms for the city—

Wandering about in the new world.

Searching for Saudade, estranging:

Culturally ingrained traditions;

Familiar faces with similar features

No need to mask their heads from hate

Or code letters to fool Catholic censors.

Dancing, descending rose petals in Fall

Black, red, pink, white, and yellow

Thorny green stems to prevent them 

From a premature deflowering.