Amnesty

"for what must I be forgiven?"
Lucia walked from Guatemala was shot
at the Mexican border  returned again and again
until she could bribe her way North
she sits in my 6 A.M. class  struggling
to tell her story   I write her tales
on the board   refuse to correct grammar
want voice hands  sturdy feet
weight of eight years of hiding

soon I must teach
simple present  present continuous
how many stars in the flag   what the stripes stand for
the students must
know address  social security   alienation number
repeat names in the same sequence each time
demonstrate comprehension of democracy
to men who want to deport them

"for what must I be forgiven?"  Lucia repeats
yet knocks on the classroom door at 5:45 eager
to speak of the mother who ripped her dress
the women whose babies she bathes
the husband who waits for her with flowers

the other students copy her story dictate theirs 
all study capitals periods commas question marks
what is simple  what continues
are the sweets they offer their grouchy teacher
who leads them sardonically through the Pledge
who obsesses with them on amendments and laws
who is just as terrified as they
of the Test for Naturalization