MS. IN
SCENE,
NEW
By Adam Watson
Pictures by Laura Holthouser
Bronze nurse, upturned hatbill
and gaze
helping to carry a wounded soldier
Behind her, a fountain weeps
on the pancho'd
shoulders
of a weary rifleman
Behind him, on the memorial steps
a woman stretches out
grey hair and newspaper skin
no blanket
eyes closed.
I asked Mr. Pinsky
about America Today:
Land of the homeless
Free of the brave?
For I was afraid to shake Her
shoulder
and
ask
are
you
alive
