Mary Burger

Metal blinds

Somewhere a lens
          diffuse light

How flimsy houses are anyway.
Plaster falls, soggy crackers.
Now everyone will miss work.

Caterpillars.  Hard hats.
Is it the beginning or the end of this day?

Who was your friend,
           who prayed
honey and water and gin,
who stacked bones
           in the corner,

how many are there today?

 

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Notes:
New York Times, January 11, 2002:
"...in
retaliation...dozens...hundreds...acres...militants...bulldozing...refugees...soldiers"

November 2001, Oakland Museum:
Wura Ogunji, Day of the Dead alter (untitled)
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