The farmers fear
the terminator gene
suicide seed
genetically altered
to die
after one crop

so future seed
must be
bought
from the giant
corporation
and fertilized

The farmers fear
genetically altered seed
that will only
germinate
and grow
with single-corporate spray

The farmers fear
they’ve lost control
and can only grow
corporate sanctioned
seed

The child answers
questions
about what
he ate
how much
and when

The interviewer
feels sad
about the
young teen
head low,
soft voice,
confidence gone
or never here

Young growing teen
you need more food
than you’re telling

Young teen
single-corporate greed
for soy and corn
has taken produce
from the farm

Real food costs too much now
and dear, young teen
your aunt
can only afford
macaroni and cheese

If you could know
a farm-fresh
turnip or tomato
from the vine

But a dollar twenty-nine
mac and cheese
is all your aunt could buy

with dad gone –

left
or in prison
never to be known

dear, young teen
no one should feel
hunger
as you

the farmer fears

He dreamed
he sat and dreamed

as he put up
on the wooden footstool

the outside ball of the foot
throbbed, slightly

reaction, ow
pulling out the lath board
and nail from the tennis -shoed foot
ow

throbbing, slightly

The moment came
days or day earlier

when he felt his brain
split in two

assertive and shy
beaten down, not encouraged

throb, throb, throb
he dreamed, slightly

what would it be
to put that dream
on paper?

One step closer to
reality

One step closer to
a dream

One step… just one step
On paper…one step

 
Lestaurant
He’d call it

Herbs and Compost
for a Safer, Healthier Community

Throb.

Sittting in his chair
Foot up
laptop on lap

He opened a page of paper
on the computer screen

and dreamed of a building
3 stories tall

With community goings-on
and programs for kids

‘cause you won’t stop
the violence

With just a vigil
and a prayer

And he stopped on
that thought

And detected the throb
was not there

A greenhouse where the
Kids of the city

Could raise and grow
Herbs for their families

Teas to soothe the
Ailing mother

Peppermints and hyssop
And herbs to enrich the food

To teach them food
the nurturing of life

the living of life

Imagine. Your home.
Your block. Your neighborhood.

As a gun-free zone

He detected again
the throb was not there