Real Refugees

To many people a refugee

Is someone who has had to flee

Because of danger to life and limb

Or oppressions’s become so grim,

They can’t be expected to tolerate

Conditions in their native state,

And when they flee their journey ends

The first safe place, which usually tends

To be a country based nearby,

Where by Law they must apply

For asylum, that they may

In that nearby country stay.

A large proportion will likely be

Women and children who had to flee

While their men stayed back to fight,

For  the things they know are right.

But refugees today it seems,

Are mostly quite young men, whose dreams

Lead them to demand that they

Can in a wealthy country stay.

It isn’t safety that they seek

But a life which is less bleak,

They’re seeking a land where compassion’s strong

And welfare’s been established long,

So they can benefit from years

Of that country’s toil and tears,

For countries have had to work to be

The prosperous places today you see.,

And if large numbers get a ride,

Down the  table they will slide.