Sign on the door: “Per me si va”*
The road was paved with gold and precious stones
At every step a sign, don’t look behind!
Everyone, get your chance, come to our shores
Move to America.
The words spoke of freedom and vast prairies
Wild rivers, new horizons
Land-a-plenty, with no fences
Discover America.
We rode toward Paradise, toward Zions
And all the way out West
Following Lewis and Clark and many moons
Settling in America.
Wife, children, a cabin milled before winter rest
Heartaches, lost limbs, broken bets
Woods to conquer, nests to upset
Making it in America.
When husband’s hand was amputated
And a medical debt cleared the house
And the horses, and all our future gutted
While fully mortgaged in America,
All the signs were in a strange prose
No art or science helped, no music or history
Not even Braille, Hebrew or Morse.
The only way to be American.
I knew nothing of promissory notes
Just things I could eat, carrots and cabbage
And a language without Kings and Toads.
Who knew I’d be foreclosed !
In America?
*Dante, Divine Comedy
Sign at the Entrance to Hell
“Through me is the way to…”
Rosaria
10-5-10
21 comments:
Very touching, Rosaria, and such a truth ring to it.
some wicked wit in your words today...who would have figured, but it is happening more every day...sad.
Most interesting piece. "Wild river, new horizons" Promise.
Foreclosure - such an ugly word.
Oh, this is a very potent piece, Rosaria! Have you seen the movie "Golden Door"? You would like it.
Wow, very powerful with so few words. Well done.
I love it.
(But, it's so, so hard not to look behind...)
And fires take houses. And floods. And tornadoes. Some disasters are man made; some come from nature. The older we get, hopefully the more clearly we can see what it is we must focus our energy and hopes on. And each person decides for him/her self what they are.
Yes. So much truth in these words you've posted. And so sad that it can happen in America.
Ann
Deep thinking for a beautiful fall day! You pose an important stance that needs to be said...thanks for a good post!
This is a very powerful post Rosaria... and one that I don't completely understand.
Possibly because I don't know what it is to be American...
but to be human is to know suffering is at any one time any where in the world..... while one person experiences joy there's another experiencing suffering.
Thank you for all that you share.
I admire your mind.
love to you
Robyn x
Great poem! Loved the rhythm and imagery that swept you right through to the end.
The land of plenty; home of the brave. Things don't look so plentiful now nor do we look brave. Good post Rosaria
Brilliant and deserving of a large audience!
Warm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
Wonderful, and so true. Thank you for sharing.
Very nice, very true, unfortunately.
Dreams and visions foreclosed. Vivid and sad.
Stunning.
Extremely powerful!!! A cross between Dante and Diamond...and poignantly delivered!!! You are very, very good!! ~Janine XO
Very sad indeed. The truth of this happening to so many people who feel taken advantage of by the banks... what a sad end to such a beautiful dream, for doesn't everyone dream of owning a home one day?
There are things that need to be fixed in this country, for sure...
Well, Rosaria, a good question:
Who knew I’d be foreclosed !
In America?
Answer: The bankers, and top government officials did, a long time ago. Still, they let it happen.
Lots of ordinary people did, too. But the dream was too great to pass up — the dream of their own home. Now, they've had to give up: their homes, and their dreams.
"I knew nothing of promissory notes
Just things I could eat, carrots and cabbage
And a language without Kings and Toads.
Who knew I’d be foreclosed !
In America?"
I'm ignornant. How is this related to Dante? Is it a take-off from his style? Ugh. Hopeless.
However, I think it is wonderful writing. Poignant. Clever. "All the signs were in a strange prose
No art or science helped, no music or history
Not even Braille, Hebrew or Morse."
What is there to say? Holy holy.
xo
erin
I guess it's a good thing I wasn't buying a home when my job ended. As it is, I am struggling to pay my bills and it is getting more and more difficult every day. I never thought life would be like this for me at retirement. I face each day more and more frightened.
Your poem says it all.
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