MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA

Epigraph~ In the wake of the tragic shooting death of Renee Nicole Good, the eyes and hearts of the world are fixed on Minnesota. Pastel artwork KNOWLEDGE by Ann DiSalvo. Ekphrastic poem MINNESOTA by David Hoffmann.

MINNESOTA

at first glance
her eyes
drew me closer

silently she spoke
as if she knew me

returning her gaze
I stepped towards her

as if I knew her
though not her name
nor from where

I wondered—
If like my mom— and her mom—
if she

was

from Minnesota

her beckoning eyes
trying to hide sadness
were haunting

silently they spoke
capturing words
on the tip
of my tongue

perhaps—
I will write to her

I will write
unspoken words

words—
then left
on a folded
piece of paper

words—
I will
put in my pocket
to be

mailed

to Minnesota

words—
I have not spoken
to someone
I would have liked
to have known

I would write words
she would then lock away

forever
locked away

forever in her chest

like having to hide a child

from

prying eyes

words—
locked away
unseen

words—
written to her
locked away

written to her
from someone
who she
never knew

whose name she
never heard

from where they came
she never will know

someone whose tearful eyes
silently speaking

will remain ever unseen
will remain ever unseen

someone who will
forever wonder
if she was

taken

from Minnesota

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