Because there’s a sparrow outside that appears to be dying.

Because I carry it with me, not the bird, but the emotion.

Because its feathers are wet, almost drenched.

Because not knowing what to do is my own purgatory.

Because nothing in the house is sugarcoated.

Because if you position yourself at the window you will see things

       you don’t want to see.

Because there is a forest of coyotes and we keep finding the bones of fawns.

Because sorrow has embroidered itself beneath my ribs and I can’t unstitch it.

Because even when I’m wrapped in a blanket, I’m not warm.

Because we all keep dying.

Because it’s really not a bird, but our country.

Because the rain won’t stop, the rain won’t stop, the rain won’t stop.
During July, in consideration of the 4th, we’re looking back at some of our favorite political poems we’ve had the honor to publish.

Kelli Russell Agodon was the first poet we published on the site, and when we had her back as Poet in Residence for July of 2017, she gave us this wonderful piece to run on July 4th of that year.