How Many Generations ‘Til Mary? - Kalia Mussetter

[Larry Robinson]

How Many Generations ‘Til Mary?
 
How many generations from
the wars of streets that 
steal one’s children, 
the daily violence of poverty,
the grinding stone of racism,
must one be before
she can follow Mary Oliver
down the green path
to the grasshopper’s house?
 
Between civilization and anarchy
only seven meals—
how many missing meals 
must be replaced 
before the chaos forced 
upon the living earth 
can be felt
by the hungry man?
 
How many generations of
enough bread, enough water,
enough freedom from 
fear-blind soldiers— 
especially when 
they’re called police—
will carve a space of safety
in which to see and write
the fog-drunk woods, the hawk,  
the running dear?
 
How can people burned as fuel
surely as a rainforest;
ghosted people trapped outside,
people in a gristmill turning
making plenty we enjoy—
even now as I am writing,
you are reading, 
on this quiet page—
find a way to care 
or even think
about the wild geese?
 
	- Kalia Mussetter