PostsChallengesPortalsAuthorsBooks
Sign Up
Log In
Posts
Challenges
Portals
Authors
Books
beta
Sign Up
Search
Poetry & Free Verse
Challenge Ended
Grab the closest book. Go to page 29. Write down 10 words that catch your eye. Use 7 of words in a poem. For extra credit, have 4 of them appear at the end of a line. Don't forget to tag me!
Ended December 29, 2016 • 1 Entry • Created by indego
Random
Popular
Newest
Challenge
Grab the closest book. Go to page 29. Write down 10 words that catch your eye. Use 7 of words in a poem. For extra credit, have 4 of them appear at the end of a line. Don't forget to tag me!
Profile avatar image for forsakenthreads
forsakenthreads in Poetry & Free Verse

Hard Times

(by Charles Dickens, The Folio Society 2007)

Politics and the election,

sanity quickly deserted.

What do I tell my African-American daughter?

Continued slaughter?

Progress diverted?

She looks to me for protection.

        The president-elect is no speaker,

        not for my family.

        I struggled within for a reason, some interpretation,

        some truth, some notion,

        destiny or homily,

        to make the future less bleaker.

                But rightward the nation is thrusting,

                and we are along for the ride.

                My mother would say, with a sigh, "This too shall pass away."

                But give up?  Nay!

                Take it in stride.

                In two years' time, we're adjusting.