What Would the World be without Mary Oliver?

This woman may bring back many shared memories: and new ones too...

Iraq

I want to sing a song

for a body I saw

crumpled

and without a name

But clearly someone young 

who had not yet lived his life

and never would.

How shall I do this?

What kind of song

would serve such a purpose?

This poem may never end,

for what answer does it have

for anyone, 

in this distant,

comfortable country,

simply looking on?

Clearly

he had a weapon in his hands.

I think

he could have been no more than twenty.

I think, whoever he was

of whatever country,

he might have been my brother,

were the world different.

I think, 

he would not have been lying there,

were the world different.

I think,

If i had known him,

on his birthday,

I would have made for him

a great celebration.

-The great imaginary friend of Emily's, Mary Oliver