i pay my respects by saying what’s true
in love and anger
you served us crumbs, you see, and we hungered
for our own bowls
of bread and milk
love your silvery chains, my sisters
we did we do
for they are your redemption
oh it is not so simple says my brain
he let sisters too
gowned in white into those clean chambers
american brothers too are yoked unequally
but it is too late now for anything
but the oversimplification from my heart
in this lush room where we keep prophet ghosts
i want to fold you in
like a child too sleepy to trust in slumber
but say instead goodbye hopeflicker goodbye
for my brothers’ sake i weep at your death
for my sisters i keep my seat as you pass
—Linda Sillitoe
