I wrote this poem to celebrate the rich diversity of our town, especially the diversity brought by the New Americans who come to Syracuse from all over the globe with hopes and dreams to find refuge and to find a new home.

I have always been fascinated by what one would take if forced to leave their home quickly, with just a few belongings. I am a member of the Armenian community of Syracuse, and Syracuse has become a refuge for many Armenians over the last century, including those who fled Turkey during the genocide of 1915 and Baku in the 1980s. I have heard stories about how people left with all sorts of things in their suitcases—from handmade lace to pomegranate seeds—to start their new life.