Hill Country 2020

By Susan Hendrix

From up alone here on our hill we can see
A huge new flag on the horizon
Planted by someone for some reason
We do not know
All we have now aside from fear are symbols
A text a voice a face on a screen
A letter in the mail
when all that’s real
Comes down to what we can touch
You and me. The house across the way
Has children and a life.
And these days some campaign signs
I want to say to them We all hurt now
As the coyotes prowl our lots
And howl and I take your face
In my hands––I want to say
To neighbors I don’t know
Somehow we must see that
Despite what constrains us
What governs us is love.