Text Prompt

Grab a book from your shelf. Read the last line in it. You have to use that line as the first or last line of your poem (with credit).

“A Last Note From Your Narrator: I am haunted by humans.” — Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

Maybe

I see what you’ve done to them.
The children –
they used to sing and dance and play.

Their eyes are hollow – from disappointing you.

When did you become comfortable
enough with capitalism, to trust it with your
babies?

They are carved and refined,
sculpted cogs to take your place,
in the warm machine after you die.

Maybe while they are 6, they should learn how to laugh and play and find joy.
Maybe then, when they are 26, it will be an ingrained habit, like breathing. Maybe they could learn to live for that instead of money.

Maybe you should let your children be children.
Your priorities are confused.
“I am [and remain] haunted by humans” (Markus Zusak).