the planet is called earth
today I live in it
there was no owner
who said we are men
women or humans
arrogant or not
I decided to be
I am a Citizen of the World

I’m an extraterrestrial on Mars
in my land I am an immigrant
speaking another language
also I am eating food
the air that you breathe has no language
has no owner
don’t play dumb
I am considered a human

in my land I am an immigrant
I’m Latin American
who said this land is yours
live free uncensored
money, work was your idea

in my land I don’t want to be an immigrant
I prefer to be a Martian
everything you expect or dream
in a hug we meet
we need peace

>

>

Rodrigo Cardoso comes from Belo Horizonte City, Brazil. He is 38 years old, his native language is Portuguese, and he has lived in New York City since May 2016. In Brazil, he studied graphic design at university and worked in this field, but the money wasn’t enough to live on, even though he lived with his family and everyone contributed. He decided to help his parents from the United States. He studies English with Lester Lambert at the Adult Literacy Program of CUNY’s Borough of Manhattan Community College.