What does it mean to me
All the fine talk
Of tender lotus buds simmering gently
Or of steamed chili peppers
Opened to find their hidden seeds
When my garden lies fallow
In the drought’s sweltering heat
When my land is lost to power and to greed
When there are cesspools
At the end of my street
What to me are honey drenched dates
That drip in sweetness
From sugared moments
When my hope is choked in terror
Buried in the drifts of dust and sand
And the olive trees die
In the rage of war and hate
What to me
Is the taste of ripened pears
Laid bare by hungering shank
When the smug of self satisfaction
Wreaks in the hallowed halls of banks
And destroys the honesty of leaders
Who only use their power
For privilege and for rank
All my journeys end in alley ways
Scribbled corners
Graffitied walls
And the ruins of concrete
But come here anyway
Tell me that you love me
Tell me that you dream of me
Each night you fall asleep
Make this one moment’s lie
Sweet
Somehow make me want to be
c 5/21/13
Sandy Hartman
So much turmoil in the world today. It is time to write of one of the toughest issues that exists globally....unemployment and the lack of futures for so many young men. These youth will never reach their potential and we well never benefit from the loss of their talent and their work in our world. They hold our futures. We will share their loss, no matter how indirectly. What better calling for writers then to write of the great global issues that we as a people face.
If you wish to view the photos and slide shows as well as listen to the audio clip of this poem, you are invited to my web site at
Sandy Hartman
Sandy Hartman is a poet and blogger.
Member of www.NLAPW.org, Jacksonville chapter
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