although my father although
my mother although we rarely
although we whispered

although the silence although
the absence although even now
some TV books not to mention

radio websites new militias hate
groups raging against our socialist-
communist-fascist although but still:

our textbooks now our museums
mostly our college literature
courses even our crayons not

to mention our young president
who could scarcely have been
imagined when we when I—

and although I’ve gone back
and filled in some blanks
I’m still learning this un-

learning untying
the knot of Yes but re-
writing this   Yes   Yes

Martha Collins, “White Papers [45]” from White Papers. Copyright © 2012 by Martha Collins.