Lilith Rogers
04-26-2007, 09:28 AM
SUBJECT MATTER
What shall I write
a poem about today--
war, destruction, hunger
drought?
The sorrow I carry
for the people in this world
who suffer
from these disasters
through no fault
of their own?
Or should I write about
the beauty
of this green spring--
the multi-colored, fragrant roses
blooming everywhere
especially here
in my own front yard
the sweet red strawberries
from the farmer’s market
the tasty oranges
I pick from high up on
my boss’s tree?
Should I write about
the ancient hatreds
keeping neighbors
in distant lands
fighting
killing
blowing up
themselves and one another?
Or the phone conversation
I had just now
with my octogenarian mother
who has finally let go
of her old disappointments in me
and now is simply glad
to connect
and chat for a while
about this and that
and end
with both of us saying
“I love you?”
Should I write about
the child slavery in Africa
the sexual exploitation
of women
everywhere
the humiliation of men
that leads them
to so many
hideous and horrible acts?
Or should I write
yet another poem
about my beautiful, clever children
their beautiful and clever children
my loving partner
my supportive, generous
eccentric friends?
How does it happen
that I am singled out
for such richness
in this world
full of unaccountable misery?
How do I write
about that?
Lilith Rogers
April 25<SUP>th</SUP>, 2007
What shall I write
a poem about today--
war, destruction, hunger
drought?
The sorrow I carry
for the people in this world
who suffer
from these disasters
through no fault
of their own?
Or should I write about
the beauty
of this green spring--
the multi-colored, fragrant roses
blooming everywhere
especially here
in my own front yard
the sweet red strawberries
from the farmer’s market
the tasty oranges
I pick from high up on
my boss’s tree?
Should I write about
the ancient hatreds
keeping neighbors
in distant lands
fighting
killing
blowing up
themselves and one another?
Or the phone conversation
I had just now
with my octogenarian mother
who has finally let go
of her old disappointments in me
and now is simply glad
to connect
and chat for a while
about this and that
and end
with both of us saying
“I love you?”
Should I write about
the child slavery in Africa
the sexual exploitation
of women
everywhere
the humiliation of men
that leads them
to so many
hideous and horrible acts?
Or should I write
yet another poem
about my beautiful, clever children
their beautiful and clever children
my loving partner
my supportive, generous
eccentric friends?
How does it happen
that I am singled out
for such richness
in this world
full of unaccountable misery?
How do I write
about that?
Lilith Rogers
April 25<SUP>th</SUP>, 2007