Description
This work is the result of my sabbatical from TCU in spring of 2024 and my largest work to date.
The idea of this work began many years ago, and in recent months and years has continued to increase in relevancy and importance. Portions of Emma Lazarus’ The New Colossus, inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty, once resonated loudly among the American people. Sadly, in 2024, this is longer the case for many as immigrants are vilified in the media and by political pundits.
This work is an amalgam of the original poem, The New Colossus, as well as contemporary contributions to the American Jewish Historical Society’s Emma Lazarus Project and Poetry Contest. The first additional poem, Liberty Enlightening, speaks from the voice of Emma Lazarus as if she were alive today to see the current state of affairs for immigrants seeking refuge in our borders. The second poem, Star Colossus, brings to life the voice of Lady Liberty. She acknowledges the struggles that face liberty and freedom today, and also offers up the invitation: “If you are not welcome in the new world, you are still welcome in the sky with me.”
