THE STAIRS

My mother remembered that

on the Sunday after the United States entered

the Second World War

my grandfather was painting the house stairs

the radio announced that German U-Boats were spotted off

the New York coast

My grandfather stopped mid-way on the stairs

he asked, “Why am  I painting these stairs at a time like this?”

He shook his head, continued to paint

answering his question:

because the stairs needed painting

because we go on

because despite a war

we must eat, work, make love

because there is a need for home and shelter

  amidst the terror

I ask myself, “Why am I reading poems at a time like this?

because poems need to be read

because we go on

because despite a war

we must eat, work, make love

because there is a need for music and poetry

  amidst the insanity of greed and governments

Because life on earth     in the universe

  is matter

  is energy

that will not be destroyed

Maria Fama