When I walk the streets

of the U.S.A.

and see the children,

I extend my hands towards them,

I hug them if I can,

and then,

sadly, I walk away.

One day,

when they are bigger,

they will be sent to my country

and there,

to my sons,

they will bring death.

Maybe

they will shoot me

while I am reading this poem.

They also smile back at me

and, without knowing anything about invasions,

keep running and playing.

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Letelier, Elias. Silence. Trans. Ken Norris. Montréal: The Muses Co., 1992.

ISBN 0919754-41-6  &  ISBN 0919754-41-4  < http://www.letelier.org >