National Poetry Month: April 19th

April 19, 2014

Analfabeta by Jacqueline Osherow

.  .for Laura Dondoli, in memory of her great-grandfather

I have a friend whose great-grandfather learned to read
From an uncle blinded in battle under Garibaldi;
He wanted Dante read to him aloud

And the boy learned to distinguish our unwieldy
Signs as simple sketches from his world,
Each with an unalterable melody:

Did he see two mountains touching, side by side?
They initiated Magic, Music, Mastery.
A three-pronged pitchfork’s unsupported head? Continue reading “National Poetry Month: April 19th”


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