Yes, we know there are only 31 days in August, but we just had to continue posting poems through the end of this week!
Night-Music
by Muriel Rukeyser
When those who can never again forgive themselves
Finish their dinners, rear up from the chair,
Turning to movies are caught in demonstrations
Sweeping the avenues — Meet them there.
Watching how their faces change like traffic-light —
Bold blood gone green as horses pound the street,
As the plates of sweated muscle push
Them squarely back into retreat.
Notice their tremulous late overthrow,
Caught irresponsible; as he first rank presses
Up at the brown animal breast of law,
Defying government by horses.
And after the quick night-flurry, the few jailed,
The march stampeded, the meeting stopped, go down
Night-streets to unique rooms where horror ends,
Strike-songs are sung, and the old songs remain.
Vaguely Ilonka draws her violin
Along to Bach, greatest of trees, whereunder
Earth is again familiar, grandmother,
And very god-music branches overhead.
Changeable spirit! Build a newer music
Rich enough to feed starvation on.
Course down the night, past scenes of horror, among
Children awake, lands ruined, begging men.
Rebel against torment —
Boats gone, night-battles, the sleepers up and shaking,
Fear in the streets,
Cruelty on awaking.
Make music out of night with change the night.
Most Poetry will post a poem by a LGBTQ+ poet, selected by our members, each day through the month of August.