Poem: Afterwords

They say poetry is a form of protest, and certainly it is good to feel like sometimes one’s words can pack a punch. I wrote this poem originally inspired by Rattle’s ekphrastic challenge for September of 2024, using this image by artist Barbara Gordon. I thought I was angry then, and I’m angrier now. So I’m sharing a poem, and asking you to contact the people who have power over the things you care about. Maybe that’s at the federal level, but maybe it’s your state or local government, your school committee, your library trustees. Make sure they know you’re paying attention.

Afterwords
by Meg Winikates, September 2024

CAUTION — DANGER — DO NOT CROSS —
Barricades and barrels,
flashing lights and flaring eyes.
They tried to lock us out.
They tried to box us in. 
But the people are the books
are the ideas are the will to be
free. 
And the library stayed open.
And the books flew off the shelves.
And the only words left 
unread
flutter yellow in the wind
like the cowardice
that strung them.

Caution.

Danger.

Do 
Not 
Cross
the librarians.