Alicia Ostriker




Liberty

Would you believe I started to cry
on the boat, when someone
pointed out her statue said the old woman
I had not a penny in my pocket
and I knew no street was paved with gold
but I walked off that boat like nobility
head like a torch held high
saved from the land that would have murdered me

Some of you have far too much
liberty for your own good said the dark red tulip
rushing about the way you do
catching planes and trains
divorcing your spouses
buying plastic
still confused and miserable
perhaps between us I am the more free

If it were up to me said the dog
there would be a beach
that would go on forever
the tides
would rise and fall
the gulls would wheel and screech
slowly ships would pass on the horizon
I would run and run