there must be someplace where life takes place
outside the snarl and rattle of tyranny
and everything else just waits
life could just be... beautiful even if useless
longing could maybe be merely distance
growing wordless, not mindless
but my teen just doesn't yet know what happens
to the Emmett Till Monument... doesn't even
know what they've done to Stonewall
it feels like we've hardly caught up with history
while events range--like mountain peaks
just absurd in scale and spilling over
so here we go again searching for surest shelter
after gasping out how we'll never return
just... going back and forth like that
_____________________________
Pic: Serendipitously, a shelter I spied at Sleepy Hollow Park yesterday.
14 comments:
Maya, I confess I don't always "get" your poems. But this, this spoke to my heart and head. Thank you for putting what I suspect many of us are thinking into words, and making those words beautiful and heartbreaking.
Beautiful poem. And nice photo to match!
I like the idea of catching up with history.
Oh, this poem went straight to my heart this morning. The first two stanzas brought tears to my eyes. It's so wistful, so yearning--and any mention of Emmett Till always breaks my heart. His mother...!
I admire your work here. It makes a huge subject quite accessible and emotional. Well done.
(And the accompanying photo is perfect--and gives me a great idea for the property across from our lakehouse.)
My favorite line is: while events range--like mountains
absurd in scale and spilling over. Because the scale of what is happening does feel absolutely absurb and like mountains we may never scale. Sigh. Thanks for putting into gorgeous, succinct words what many (most?) of us are feeling.
The photo is beautiful and really moved me. Thanks for sharing your art, in its various mediums, with us. Beauty truly will save the world!
-Steph
Anne--thank you. And I think the not getting part is a "me" thing because I use a lot of internal shorthand and hide sometimes. Thanks for reading!
Thank you, Jenny!
Will we ever?!
Nance--Thank you. And yes--always Emmett Till.
I've seen pictures of play shelters made with living boughs--they look magical. Theo would love it!
Lisa--thank you for reading so carefully <3
I was also happy about "range like mountain peaks" (because of mountain ranges) :)
What a kind thing to say, Steph! Please know that your comment inspired the thought about "unruliness."
This poem is so touching, especially when you mention the Till and Stonewall monuments. We do need a sunset shelter.
Thank you, Jeanie. It is particularly sad that we can't give our painful history a rest...
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