Statue of Liberty

 

To Where Is She Walking?

 

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

 

Who is the statuesque woman

walking over the Appalachian Mountains?

Spotters said she is 111 feet tall.

Trackers found footprints–shoe size 879.

Reporters confirmed that she paused

at Chattanooga’s Lookout Mountain.

Did she see seven states,

did she see the Land of Liberty?

 

Where is she going?

What is her destination?

I have heard no new Bartholdi could be found

to clone a second Colossus;

so, Lady Liberty is walking,

walking to the Rio Grande.

 

Will her hand of 16 feet, five inches

wave cool air toward the weary travelers,

will she wave “Hello,”

will she raise her torch to light the way,

or will she raise her bold hand to signal “stay”?

 

She left her pedestal in New York Harbor.

At the Rio Grande, will she close the door;

or will the Great Lady open her 42-foot arms

to welcome more?

I hear whispers of

“Come, little children–

ninitos de Guatemala,

Honduras, y El Salvador.”

Is her left hand carrying the bronze plaque

on which are inscribed the tender words

of Emma Lazarus?

Is the Colossal Lady saying,

“Come to us”?

 

What will La Dama de la Libertad say?

Has someone prepared for her

a pedestal in the Rio Grande?

 

July 9, 2014, Wednesday

 

Advertisement