Los Hijos De Hernandez

I was returning from my land
and when crossing the border
an officer asked me
to fulfill my duties
if I had papers
I had to show them.

And as he checked them
I heard him mutter
something that made me angry
with so many immigrants
many Americans
can't even work.

I told him angrily
what you muttered
has a lot of truth
Latin Americans
have taken the place
of many Americans.

If we work very hard
we don't give up
if life needs to be risked
in the battlefield
we have been put forward
because we know how to fight.

My children were born here
ignoring prejudices
and discrimination
their homeland claimed them
and on the battlefield
they put their hearts.

No one noticed
that they signed as Hernandez
they were cannon fodder
perhaps my children took
the place that was not filled
by the sons of some Saxon.

If on the payroll
you look with displeasure
at my Spanish surname
you will see it on another list
that when it comes to inspection they are listed as missing in action.

While I shouted this at him
the immigrant cried
and said with emotion
cross the border
this one and as many times as you want
you have more courage than me.