Education

What if I were to take their tongues away,

Lay them all in a row and gaze upon them,
So many ripe red peppers
Glistening in the sun?

What if I were to take their voices away,

String them up and beat them like rugs
Until all the acid stains and dust
Of instinct trickled into the soil?

What if I were to build my house upon that soil

And from inside, watch the rains fall onto the crop?

Would I awake to find

A fence of ripe red peppers
Or ears of corn listening
Intently for the break of day?

Lakeville
Spring 1996