- WAR is RAW Backward and Forward, and: My Immigrant Dad, On Voting
WAR is RAW Backward and Forward
as my father lay dying fighting raged across the perfectly pivoted TV screen in his hospital room
He turned his face away from the meal tray
waved goodbye to the untouched slab of beef
told us to plant his ashes in the ground
held a radio filled with classical music over his heart
and closed his eyes
My Immigrant Dad, On Voting
It didn’t mean much to me, no I didn’t know who was running No No I wasn’t sure what was behind it all [End Page 134] As a journalist I wrote what candidates said But I didn’t believe them No hardly ever No The people who got elected always seemed to be crooks Elections made me think though Once my friend ran for mayor and I felt excited I still don’t think voting is much of a thrill I know I know You do Jimmy Carter was the only one I trusted I wrote him a letter Said he was the best president I ever had
Naomi Shihab Nye’s most recent book is Honeybee.
“It was a great comfort, growing up in a somewhat offbeat and frequently argumentative household, to be part of a mysterious ‘Boomer generation.’ It sounded hopeful. It sounded energetic.”