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Sunday, September 04, 2016

TWO LITTLE POEMS FOR TWO LITTLE CHICAGO GIRLS

by William Marr



Black Eyed Peas have joined forces once again to revamp their 2003 hit "Where Is the Love?" Sales from the new version of the track will go to the i.am.angel foundation, a non-profit founded by will.i.am with the goal of "transforming lives through education, inspiration and opportunity."


MENARCHE
       
Stumbling on a bumpy sidewalk
a little girl was hit by a stray bullet

Blood gushed from her immature body
Her stiffening mouth had yet to ask girlish questions
of her wailing mother


HOPSCOTCH

Standing in the way
of a bullet’s joyflight
another little girl fell
on a blood-stained pavement

A triumphant smile
crossed her twisted face
as she finally managed
to plant both feet
neatly
in the chalked squares


William Marr has published 23 volumes of poetry (3 in English and the rest in his native Chinese language), 3 books of essays and several books of translations. His most recent book, Chicago Serenade, a trilingual (Chinese/English/French) poetry anthology, was published in Paris in 2015. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages and included in over one hundred anthologies. Some of his poems are used in high school and college textbooks in Taiwan, China, England, and Germany.  He is a former president of the Illinois State Poetry Society and has received numerous awards, including three from Taiwan for his poetry and translations.  A PhD recipient and a retired research engineer, he now resides in a Chicago suburb.