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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Foreclosed in America.



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:

potsoc said...

Very touching, Rosaria, and such a truth ring to it.

Brian Miller said...

some wicked wit in your words today...who would have figured, but it is happening more every day...sad.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Most interesting piece. "Wild river, new horizons" Promise.

Foreclosure - such an ugly word.

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh, this is a very potent piece, Rosaria! Have you seen the movie "Golden Door"? You would like it.

Julie Musil said...

Wow, very powerful with so few words. Well done.

decomondo said...

I love it.
(But, it's so, so hard not to look behind...)

Ann Best said...

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

Donna said...

Deep thinking for a beautiful fall day! You pose an important stance that needs to be said...thanks for a good post!

xxx said...

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

Janet Lee said...

Great poem! Loved the rhythm and imagery that swept you right through to the end.

Cheryl Cato said...

The land of plenty; home of the brave. Things don't look so plentiful now nor do we look brave. Good post Rosaria

Cloudia said...

Brilliant and deserving of a large audience!




Warm Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

ds said...

Wonderful, and so true. Thank you for sharing.

Nancy said...

Very nice, very true, unfortunately.

Grandmother Mary said...

Dreams and visions foreclosed. Vivid and sad.

rjerdee said...

Stunning.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Extremely powerful!!! A cross between Dante and Diamond...and poignantly delivered!!! You are very, very good!! ~Janine XO

Phoenix said...

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...

Rob-bear said...

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.

Woman in a Window said...

"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

RNSANE said...

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.