John Dorroh
Taking a Monster to Task
1.
Monsters don’t always hide under the bed
& come out in the dead of night to bite off
some body part. They don’t always show
their teeth or claws & peel back skin
of innocent victims. Often they appear
out of the blue, rising from the ground,
blowing in on turbulent currents, destroying
everything in their path. They ignore the tears,
daring people to look them in the eye.
2.
I’ve never seen your soul or rolled its tissue
between my fingertips, but I know it’s there.
I’ve never taken it on a picnic or biked down
Haleakala with it packed in my basket.
I’ve never asked it to early breakfast or
taken it to watch for whales in the sea.
But I have felt your spirit, people of Maui,
& I understand your faith & persistence
& the power of a determined people
when monsters have gobbled up their hearts.
It takes waves of patience which monsters
just don’t have.
1.
Monsters don’t always hide under the bed
& come out in the dead of night to bite off
some body part. They don’t always show
their teeth or claws & peel back skin
of innocent victims. Often they appear
out of the blue, rising from the ground,
blowing in on turbulent currents, destroying
everything in their path. They ignore the tears,
daring people to look them in the eye.
2.
I’ve never seen your soul or rolled its tissue
between my fingertips, but I know it’s there.
I’ve never taken it on a picnic or biked down
Haleakala with it packed in my basket.
I’ve never asked it to early breakfast or
taken it to watch for whales in the sea.
But I have felt your spirit, people of Maui,
& I understand your faith & persistence
& the power of a determined people
when monsters have gobbled up their hearts.
It takes waves of patience which monsters
just don’t have.