Poetry

AFP photo

By

Alejandro Escudé

American Cages

I thought I’d draw a cage for you.

| | | | | |

Or three cages,

each with a young child inside.

|  ;       | |  ; | |  ; |

The children were born

and they will come to die.

I thought I’d draw a cage for you

in the night,

in the terrible light,

in the seizing

of these children, who will meet

hundreds more children in American cages.

When you look inside a cage with a child in it,

how can you be sure you’re not the one in the cage?

I draw another three cages for you.

| | | | | |

Or three cages,

each with a voter inside.

|  { | |  { | |  { |

Three voters consternated

over immigration.

We hold their semblance

to the sun.

What does their sulfur heart whisper?

It is night in America.

It is day in America.

I could draw many more cages for you.

Alejandro Escudé

Alejandro Escudé’s first book of poems, My Earthbound Eye, was published in September 2013. He holds a master’s degree in creative writing from UC Davis and teaches English. Originally from Argentina, Alejandro lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.