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What Now Will They Build

Written upon reading about anti-colonizer
graffiti recently found on a Lincoln statue. Read the
story here.

We see angry children
Assembled after dark.
Attack defenseless statues
Of men who made a mark.

Nothing do they know
Of those they denigrate;
They know not what it means
For one to consecrate.

Who has won their freedom,
Their freedom to throw paint,
To speak and to assemble?
Their answers we await.

What now will they build,
And will their building last?
Then worthy of a statue
When they have one day passed?

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Michael Charles Maibach began writing poems at age nine.  Since then he has continued writing poems, and sharing them with friends.  His career has involved global business diplomacy.  He is a native of Peoria, Illinois.  Today Michael resides in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.  More of his poems are found at www.MaibachPoems.us or on Facebook.

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8 Responses

  2. Yael

    Great question! These statue vandalizers will surely regret their actions some day, if they live long enough to acquire some hind-sight perspective on their lives. I like this poem, good job.

    Reply
  3. James A. Tweedie

    Great question, Michael, and I’m glad you kept it simple and to the point. That makes it all the harder to avoid answering it.

    Reply
  4. Roy Eugene Peterson

    This is a smooth and poignant poem that skewers the simple idiots who know not what they are attacking! Well done!

    Reply
  6. C.B Anderson

    It’s just too bad that statues can’t fight back. Wouldn’t that be fun to watch?

    Reply
  7. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Oh, the irony. All that freedom fought for, all that intellect, passion, and compassion mustered to build a world where… everything built can be torn down and vandalized- freely. Thank you for this pertinent poem, Michael. It says everything about today’s disdain for what the “free” world stands for. Sadly, it’s nothing new. If the people doing this perused the tomes of history, they might see the consequences of such actions.

    Reply
  8. David Whippman

    James is right, the starkness of the poem reflects – almost parodies – the crudeness of the vandals. Which in no way reflects badly on your work.

    Reply

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