Heather Saunders Estes

Like many of you, I try to balance my despair about war, poverty, and loss of habitats for many creatures including humans with the beauty, compassion and kindness I find in my life and in the world. I am grateful to share my poem with you at this turn of the year. Happy New Year to us all!

Two Roses

Up before dawn to take her to the train station.
Out the back window, a huge, seeming solid, wall
of dark grey mist and fog is lurking in our valley.
Above it, night is washing out of a clear sky.
The barrier’s top edge is serrated with wisps of cloud.
Sun, slowly rising behind, backlights that glowing edge.

Cellphone digital tickets in her hand,
full backpack’s side pocket is hugging
two carefully-wrapped long stem red roses.
We back out the driveway. Prepare to descend
down into the wall. It comes on quickly.

My daughter wants to give holiday money
to whomever can help stop the Hamas/Israeli war.
All around the world, it seems, politicians
promise walls — to keep out, or keep in.

Hug goodbye, the mist thinning a bit.
As I drive home, the sun is almost above the wall.
The light, blinding. Sudden fire,
a still-motion explosion, bursts upward.
Then it is day. The wall disappears within minutes.