By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
POLITICAL LOVE AFFAIR
I tried to leave
because she
can be cruel
to women and children
unkind to the strangers
she once was herself
Round corners
in a remote countries
and there she was
looking out of starry eyes
waving wind
Stowed in my suitcase
carried over seas of clouds
Miles of deadweight
I couldn’t put down for long
Forced to admit
I couldn’t help loving her
even when she forgot
the migrant diversity
enshrined in her DNA
“For better or worse,”
married to the memory
that must be re-membered
because of her race
for deeper pockets
higher buildings
smarter machines
Mountains of shiny accessories
that divorce her
from the indivisible mirror
she bled and gave birth
to the world