I’m used to thinking
this city of the world
proud and impregnable,
with our ideals the bunting,
vividly shaded on election
day, with the hum of hymns
for social justice ringing in
my ears—hear ye, hear ye!
This just in, pick it up yourself
from your local village grocery!
Yet
I’m not used to asking
the fortress in between
my ears, why it’s been taken
over, why the siege has taken
so long, with famished Faith
crawling at her accusers’ feet—
but he who has ears, let him hear:
there must be another way through
this city, this tower that we’ve built:
beautiful and truly untamed.
Dwelling deep in the forests of New England, Graham spends most of his time reading, taking walks with his dog, and learning new and interesting things (and reveling in cooler, more temperate climates). Born and raised in the Boston area, Graham was homeschooled from an early age. After high school, he proceeded to get a bachelor’s in Literature from Patrick Henry College in Northern Virginia. He currently resides in the Boston area while pursuing a master’s in Education at Gordon College, steeping in the rich history of his home turf and a continued exploration of literature from across the world. He says you should read Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country and Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, because they are incredible novels. Also, read Robert Frost.
This is so beautiful, oh my gosh…
Thank you!
Beautiful words that are both simple and well-chosen — an art itself. I love reading your work, poetry buddy! 🙂
Yay Poetry Buddy! And thank you, I appreciate the encouragement.
I love the picture that accompanies this! Thanks for sharing your work! Then ending was my favorite.
Thank you so much! I have to say, I like how the ending turned out. It genuinely surprised me when I wrote it.
Nice job! 😀
Wow, this really makes one think. I love the metaphor of “the fortress in between my ears.” Very nice work!