I wrote this poem as a love letter to the U.S. border town of Douglas, AZ in reference to its sister border city Agua Prieta, MX. Douglas and Agua Prieta for the most part act as one single place for me and many people. But, the increase in border militarization and organized crime has allowed fear and violence to create a gap in the relationship between these two sister cities. I hope the poem can serve a reminder to us that we are siblings who come from the divine, and that God’s love calls us to come together and fight for unity to be with our siblings instead of separation.
Dear Brother Douglas,
I looked through the wall and saw your sister,
she seemed so different than what they whisper.
I felt a sense that all is peaceful,
even though she’s grown with lots of people.
She has her flaws: the violence and drugs,
and when it rains her streets always flood.
But, I’ve seen another part of your sister,
it’s the part that they never whisper.
She’s become a great diverse community,
but still a place where you feel unity.
She’s full of restaurants from carnitas to sushi,
with lots of places that remind you of movies.
Her churches are full of loving people,
who will love and bless you under the church steeple.
So fear not, she’s still your sister,
and I know deep inside you miss her.
She looks above a red steel wall,
and invites you to come over and play baseball.
A border united, two countries as one,
a brother and sister under the high desert sun.
James Martin
