The Long Man

By Sabina C. Becker

Hill-cut giant      white chalk man
You dance through my dreams      an outsize cartoon
Defiant of invaders      outrageously endowed
Wanton romper      spear-planter

The Romans tried      they could not conquer you
The rains tried      they could not wash you away
The grass tried      it could not cover you

People kept coming      cutting
Old believers      with lanterns and blades
Coming to keep you      sleep their sacrifice
Centuries of slicing      the white from the green

This is why you dance      you remind us
This is why you dance      you cannot be conquered
This is why you dance      you are all of us

There may be other times      other Romans
Other wars may ravage      other hills may rise
Other rains may fall      acid and poisonous
Other grass may grow      with other genes

This is why you dance      you keep dancing
This is why you dance      you defy them all
This is why you dance      you remind us

Remind us      we are not conquered
Remind us      we still believe
Remind us      we are all you