by Mary Saracino
There are things in this world
over which we have no control:
tsunami tombs and earthquake
crevices swallowing whole
the hopes of men and women
unhinged levees drowning
the dreams of children
inept officials courting tragedy
averting eyes from sorrow’s pleas for mercy
food, medicine, a roof over one’s head
justice tarries too long in the land
of the unseeing, loses its way
still, outrage emboldens swollen
hearts, spreads compassion
like manure to fertilize charity
which still begins at home
though not every knocked door opens
the ones that do change things
Mary Saracino is a novelist, memoir writer, and poet who lives in Denver, CO. Her newest novel, The Singing of Swans, is to be published by Pearlsong Press in October 2006.
