people who started
there are three different kinds
pulling out lines
on our land
nation of scavengers
run
out of their house naked
you weren’t supposed to see
and then they hit you
again
both rose to the highest
founding figures
some days, even me, I cried
forced into sexual denial
can’t even cut wood
elders started getting older
trying to manage
all their life
opportunity in trapping
neural pathways being formed
and the people
there’s nothing there
This piece (including the title) is composed solely out of phrases taken randomly from “Paying the Land” by Joe Sacco (2020). I picked this graphic novel up recently, as I just love Sacco’s ability to shed powerful light on troubling histories — plus I already own two lots of his brilliant work: “Palestine” and “Safe Area Goradze”. These are both significant commentaries on tragic political situations. Putting his compelling storytelling aside, I must say that Sacco’s cartooning chops are also most definitely the bee’s knees!