I keep remembering the churches
the people and their sad faces
trembling over faded
operatic lungs
that can stop gasping
but will not —
raising hands in the air
I keep remembering the organ
it's weary cry drenched in Picasso blue
the desperate stare of scarcity
fists clenched —
raising hands in the air
I keep remembering the bluster
the depressions in the earth
hoards of old women gossiping
with frowns turned upside down
properly trimmed —
raising hands in the air
I keep remembering the girl's dresses
their young black legs
secured by tall fathers
soles stamping incensed
the B-24 Liberator
Solar powered war
and the people —
raising hands in the air
_
"Holding Fast" was first published in 2009 by Black Sheep Collective.