Sugarland Poem by RIC BASTASA

how situation changes
sometimes we do not notice

you look at the child's face
you think it is still the usual girl's face

the usual humiliation comes with a name
a old name

you fail to recognize that beyond
the girl's face is a strong woman

that you fail to recognize
you refuse to give way to the changes

look at you
miserable as a rat jumping from the boat

just to save yourself
and yet when you see the girl in that

woman's face
you keep on clinging to what was once great

falling like debris
upon the present citadel of broken pieces

how can you not see the misery in you now?
poor as a rat but prouder still like a lion

without teeth
disregarding the near death

ahead of you
miserable rich, wretched by the price
of your time

look at you
how can you not see that rat in you