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Ballad of My Lai

Ballad of My Lai

By Claire Mattern

My Lai,
they lie,
I lie,
you lie,
we all lie together
where we died.
We all lie together
and our ashes turn to dust.
We all lie together,
where we died.

If they plant potatoes on us,
we will rise again.
We’ll all rise together
from the dust.
Apples of the earth,
come to stave the hunger off
we’ll all rise together
from the dust.

If they plan their grape vines on us,
we will rise again.
We’ll all hang together
on the vine.
Wine for communion,
to remind them of their Lord,
we’ll all hang together
on the vine.

If an acorn falls upon us
and takes root,
and a tree grows
and its roots embrace us all,
we will all climb together
and smile up at the sun.
We’ll all reach together
for the sky.

My Lai,
they lie,
I lie,
you lie,
we all lie
together
where we died.

Prairie Schooner, Vol. 45, No. 2 (Summer 1971), pp. 154-155

Biography

Claire Mattern was a Nebraskan poet.

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