Soliciting Information From The State Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

For Sharon F. Douglas


they will bring you information back in a thimble

that maybe was true two years ago.

you will scrape the bottom of the well

of wishes. but there will be no residue.

you will write and there will be no reply.

or there will be a reply as transparent as glass

taking wing into the Invisible

and meaningless in any language.

we are free scream the posters

scream the candidates on tv

or whisper to themselves at odd moments

happy with their salaries.

that their favorite restaurant in a chic spot

is always glad to seat them.

we are free I cry myself to sleep.

free to be told nothing

as if our heart had disappeared

our soul skipped town.

mary angela douglas 6 november 2019