Stephen Kuusisto

Ukraine

A squirrel scooped out of the air

This morning

Rescued by a winter branch

Even unthinking

Nature has more heart

Than the tyrant

The world creeps

In and out

Of my coat

We’re asked

By threadbare

Things what’s

It for this life

An image of power

Itself would be

Transparent

Like the eyes

Of horses

With a promise

Of animal faith

Walking today

In Central Park

Cars flying past

In the glare

Hang on

That we may be

Creatures

Hopeful

Ukraine

I will stay hopeful

For you

Though words

Are such puny devotion

table of contents

next