Drums In The Distance
outside the café a statue
of Christopher Columbus stands
with the world in his palm
staring past the intersection
out towards the sea he crossed
to begin a downward spiral
Neruda’s poems typed
on the blood of rebellion
the sun still shines on Spain
a new world of systems
freedom of the dollar
freedom of the victors
the bones of a thousand
dead women and children
on a trail of tears
the sun still shines on the Cherokee
100 dead angels
lay below Nat Turner
swinging in the breeze
35 free men sail home
the sun still shines on you
a child cries in the night
a family eats dinner
in the dull glow
of a parking lot
a mother leaves her third job
walks the cold streets home alone
the sun still shines on America
outside the cafe
in a small well-kept park
Christopher Columbus stands
with the world in his palms
and a man with holes in his boots
huddled at his feet