A Poem about Maria Teresa
by James Graham
Maria Teresa
was taken ill one day
at her bench in the t-shirt factory
in El Salvador.
She went to the toilet
had a miscarriage
was found unconscious
rushed to hospital
arrested
charged with aggravated homicide
sentenced to 40 years.
In El Salvador
miscarriage
is abortion
which is murder.
Write a poem?
About Maria?
No, you have to try
to make things happen:
invade the noble square
before the President’s palace
with red-lettered banners
ten foot broad
and angry shouts.
Fire demands and truths
at the high windows.
But Presidents drink fine wine
and banter behind heavy doors.
Well then, a poem. It’s no better
and no worse. Drain off your anger
into words. Assemble
hard-edged images, disorienting
Gyroscope Review 27