pictured words

a simple pairing of pictures and poetry

Tag: The fall of America

Untitled angst


If not for nations
coming to my own doorstep,
I’d never know them.

I’d never have seen
they’re here to feed me the food
that comforts their souls.

I’d never have seen
they’re here to make my home both
strong and welcoming.

They’re here to make us
kinder. Gentler.  Here to make
their own lives better,

but also the lives
of all those who welcomed them,
and those who didn’t. 

I want to save them
from the strangling hands of this
administration.

If not for Donald,
would Vance, Rubio, Musk, Noem,
and all the others

be so emboldened
to heartless vindictiveness
and mercilessness? 

If not for clear signs
from history (you know which),
one might never know.

© Marie Elena Good 2025

Untitled haibun-like firehose

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

this not a trickle but a wide-open firehose that is not meant to douse flames but to disorient the American people leaving us reeling feeling discounted disregarded overlooked overwhelmed overpowered and overthrown (overthrown?) unquestionably and categorically overthrown and now so unrecognizable my country looks far more distorted than even what I see through my wrinkled retina and make no mistake this firehose is intentional gish gallop in its inundation and devastation and

How can one stall a
strategic tsunami with
a spoon and a sponge?

(c) Marie Elena Good 2025

Eye of the Beholder

Photo by PNW Production on Pexels.com

Eye of the Beholder

Some of the most
physically gorgeous
sincere
generous
intelligent
strongest
kindest women I know —
women I have the privilege of loving
and being loved by —

scream

Not with their voices

but with their color
covering
accent
mother tongue. 

They scream,
Foreigner!
Criminal!
Unsafe!
Unwelcome!

The beautiful truths in their hearts
are misperceived. 
They are viewed as ugly lies
in the eyes of the listeners
who hear only what they are told
to hear. 

If only you knew them. 
If only you were willing
to spend time
communicating
communing
sharing food
exchanging smiles
searching their eyes
tracing their hearts
experiencing their generosity,

your hate and fear would
shut up
shut down.

Your heart and home would
open
expand
make way.

You would hear not screams, but
intelligent ideas
endearing emotions
liberal benevolence
soothing sentiments

and you would do anything in your power
to protect their lives and their hearts,
and protect your relationship with them.

Anything.

© Marie Elena Good 2025

Maternal Strength (Mother of Exiles)

Photo by Romina Ramat on Pexels.com

Maternal Strength (Mother of Exiles)

Her light, once shining full and bright,
now dim from weeks-long dark of night.
Her eyes glimpse loss of prized allies.
Tear-flooded eyes say their goodbyes
to those once-welcomed, now in throes
of deportation, unopposed.

“Rise up!” She pleads, “to stop this man
who’s changed our core in six-weeks’ span.”
Maternal strength with nurturing spirit,
sing your welcome!  Let us hear it!
Shine bright your lamp and wail your plea,
“Send poor and tempest-tossed to me!”

© Marie Elena Good 2025

Title and final line of course inspired by The New Colossus, by American poet Emma Lazarus

UNTIED STATE OF AMERICA

Photo by Josh Withers on Pexels.com

Untied State of America

Too many are in a state in which to appease this would-be king is a thing.  Too many in power cower to the flurry of EOs. And I worry: are we in the throes of war?  The doors of our neighbors slam and lock as they balk at what we have become … in one month’s time. A crime.  America, loosed from friends who have deduced we are behind this unraveling, is disjointed. We’ve appointed a king, know it or not.  Formerly brothers, we are now others in the sight of those who once had our back. They see what we don’t. Or won’t.  Their eyes are open to the dulling of the shining city on the hill, while our king is culling our allies at his will.

Your falling isn’t
from the attacks of others,
my country, ‘tis of thee.

© Marie Elena Good, 2025