CANTUS: N-400 Erasure Songs: 2 by Melissa Dunphy

This performance of Melissa Dunphy's "N-400 Erasure Songs: 2" was commissioned by Cantus and recorded LIVE in October 2021 as a part of Cantus touring program My Journey Yours. From the composer: "Erasure poetry is created by blacking out portions of pre-existing text to create a new work. Each of the poems in this cycle uses and reshapes text from the N-400, the application form that foreign-born "aliens" submit to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to be naturalized and become citizens of the United States." ---- Poetry by Laurel Chen 2. N-400 (an erasure) i. notice: any immigration notice: hearing notice: see notice: you ii. to the immigrant : homeland is a process delayed. iii. fingerprints disposable a number unpermitted immigrants: are all of the above iv. about the United States: do not support the criminal history v. you are what you have abandoned vi. identify: alien copy: self vii. separate your open wounds in the process viii. verify: all has been destroyed ix. naturalization can not capture your free can not level your personal for political x. this application simplified is persecution of your own safety to ensure social security xi. reschedule reschedule reschedule reschedule a time time time again time time date and time xii. resubmit resubmit resubmit xiii. please xiv. you will never belong — Laurel Chen ---- linktr.ee/cantussings