I don’t understand!
Monsieur, I don’t understand.
You have explained well
I need the neurons to link
So, I can form images in my brain
And to retrain my mind
To act differently to stimuli
To re-structure my understanding
I would say it in Spanish [if I were able]
How little do I understand of your land
Knew a couple of people, a long time ago
They were fascinated by Spain. I remember
Them enthusiastically speaking of their visit
The bullfights, the colour, the energy
I regret to inform you that I was
Less than equally enthusiastic; which
Somewhat dampened the evening
I did not understand. I do now
Oh. mighty German state
There is so much I don’t understand
About you; your history to date
Why did people do what they did
Why do certain things still have appeal?
Try as might to ‘unhappen’ things
They still leave their mark
On humanity as a whole
Russian perhaps] Explain to me, please
Why as a country you let an egomaniac
Take you to war? Why do you bear the double
Indignity of being lied to, misinformed
And manipulated? What have you as a nation
Do to deserve this? What will your response be
When the truth comes to light; the circumstance
Surrounding the non-return of a son? Will your anger
Tremble the walls of the Kremlin?
There is so much I do not understand
Either out of ignorance, mal-adjusted neurons
Or the size and complexity of the problem
So, possibly, could you explain it to me?
Leslie D Bush
© 14 April 2022
Poem published in Greatest Anthology of the World
