Are you attending the AWP 2025 conference in LA?

Join the slowdown for a live off-site event with me, Major, Padrake Otuma, and more friends

for poetry, conversation, and some fun and games. Friday, March 28th at 7 p.m. at the Crawford

in Pasadena. Tickets at LAS.com slash events.

I'm Major Jackson, and this is the slowdown.

I distinctly remember the look of joy on Mrs. Kumar's face.

She sat at the end of a long table, beaming while opening gift bags.

It wasn't her birthday.

She immigrated to the United States nearly 20 years prior.

After raising two children, after establishing a therapy practice, she decided finally to become a citizen.

Earlier that morning, having successfully passed the naturalization exam, she took the oath of allegiance.

And here we were, her neighbors, family and co-workers, eating plates of curries, baryani rice, non-bred,

and celebration. My friend, Rukmini, joked that we would have failed the citizenship test,

given how we dozed in American history classes. How many articles are in the original constitution?

Who knows? She laughed.

With watery eyes, Mrs. Kumar shared the feelings of being in a room full of people

with different histories and cultures, all raising their hands together in unison,

giving voice to a shared belief in the freedoms espoused by their new country.

Her story is but one of many.

Today's poem tells another story of a path to citizenship.

Such stories deepen my appreciation for the principle of we the people.

Portrait of my mother studying for her citizenship exam by Eduardo Martinez Leva.

...