<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Deportation</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Well it’s happened.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I’m being deported.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They came last week</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a pair of suits with attitude. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They’re sending me back</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">to where I came from --</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Davenport, Iowa.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Somebody snitched my secret. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I wasn’t born in California.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The California Water Conservation and Immigration Service</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">were on the job and in my face. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Did I have identification? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We soon agreed that I was </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">who I thought I was.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Sir,†the tall one said, “You have one week.†</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I couldn’t believe it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “Why? I haven’t washed my car in seven months!â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Sir,†he said, “You’re drinking our water.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> He had me there.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“You have to leave!â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “But I don’t know anyone in Iowa!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I haven’t spoken Iowanese in 60 years!â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“You can learn it again.â€<br> “I’m a Democrat for Cripes sake!†</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Do you have a green card?â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “I’m retired.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Do you have an immigrant visa?â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “I have a Visa card.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Use it to buy a bus ticket.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “But this is my home!â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Not anymore.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “I know I wasn’t born here.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“You admit it then.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “But I got here as soon as I could!â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The short guy said, “Do you speak any Iowanese?â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “Just <i>please, thank you </i>and<i> I didn’t do it</i>.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Sir, you won’t have any trouble.â€</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">They left and I thought about it. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I’ll show them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Before I leave for Minneapolis,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I’ll wash my car. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> ~Doug von Koss</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Year of the drought 2015</span></p><br>All the suffering in the world comes from seeking pleasure for oneself. All the happiness in the world comes from seeking happiness for others.<div> - Shantideva </div></div></body></html>