Upon arrival all lips were collected.
You Cannot Enter This Country With Your Lips
They say.
A woman asks why?
They take her child and put it in a cell with
other children faceless nameless lipless kids
why? why?
They take her warm lips

Do Not Ask Why.

In a line the Bodies move to the next room
You Must Give Us Your Twisted Tongues That Slither
They say.
You Must Not Speak Here.
When the tongues are collected, a test begins
Your Tongues Upset Us; Your Accents Upset Us
They say.
Now Say ‘Asylum’.
ah-shiy-um. ah-shiiiy-um, ah-SHIY-um. good, good?
One man is taken

Do Not Say This.

Lastly, an interview in a concrete room
How Can You Come Here? They ask. Uninvited?
They look
Their eyes are on throats.
The pressure is a blocked dam that will not break
A man can’t talk with his hands against the wall.
A gun
pressed against his back.

Do Not Talk Here.

There is no response for the voices have gone.
We Will Keep These Things You Bring To Our Country
They Say.

Until You Leave Here.