by Roberta Gould
"Light is slipping under
the dream shade
No matter what we’ve attempted
can’t darken the room for the show
the one that surpasses their mothers
The shade is not long enough
can’t cover the entire window
and they are struck by the world
intruding with every horror
we’ve tried to keep out
So we board up the glass
and tell each house to do likewise
flash pictures on the walls
amuse seduce bemuse
hypnotize the populace
They sing our hymns and anthems
We are free Now they kill as we choose"
Roberta Gould’s poetry has appeared in many journals and periodicals, including Confrontation, The New York Times, Green Mountain Review, Blue Line, The Village Voice, Chapultepec Review, The Pacific Coast Journal, Helicon Nine, Bridges, and Rio on Line. Her published books are Dream Yourself Flying (1979), Writing Air, Written Water (1980), Only Rock (1985), Esta Naranja (1988), Not by Blood Alone (1989), Live Show (1993), Three Windows (1997), In Houses With Ladders (2000). Her eighth book, Pacing the Wind, will be out this summer. Her website is www.robertagould.net.
