Some People Complain

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She worked as an interpreter at Schar and wanted her poem to be “thanks for allowing me.”

Her background in a very repressive regime gave her a unique perspective about the gift of being able to live here, although she had felt anxiety for the past few years.

The theme of voting, both as a right and a responsibility, arose several times during our conversation.

Listener Poet Katherine Gekker

Inova Schar Cancer Institute

July 2019

But I know

what it is like to survive

tyrants,

military coups,

terrorism.

And so I thank God –

I wake up every morning.

My beautiful parents are alive.

I live in this country.

I have the right to vote.

I’ve been given the opportunity

to help others,

to serve as an interpreter,

medically and legally,

to teach.

I tell my students –

Exercise your right to vote.

I give thanks for Mother Nature.

This world delights me.

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