When I write 2020
I think of the vision
I no longer have.
My world is blurring.

He lied. No, only liberals lie.
He didn’t let doctors
tend to the children.
I never heard that. You’re lying.

Last century, the newspapers
children threw at our doors
kept us on the same pages.
But in school we pledged allegiance.

Under God, underdog,
understudy, underwear,
underground, underpaid,
underfed, undertaken.

The children type quickly
but cannot climb trees.
Undergo.
Understand.

Sara Backer

 

Sara Backer has a new book of poetry, Such Luck (Flowstone Press 2019), and two poetry chapbooks: Scavenger Hunt (dancing girl press 2018) and Bicycle Lotus (Left Fork 2015). She earned an MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts. sarabacker.com

© 2020