The classic version:
Steal a face
make a mould
then the mask
sell it back
demand and obtain gratitude.
Or alternatively:
Destroy spirit
Conjure replacement
lace it with the usual poisons --
poor, underdeveloped, backward
and as Gourevitch said
the robbed inhabit
the robber's version
of their reality
and look up whispering
'rich, developed, advanced'.
But today
an identity was stolen:
picture pick
same name
new page
and yet
hearts are hearts
like heartbeats of nations
a hundred fakes
cannot draw spirit
cannot impoverish
cannot say 'this is who you are'.
Some hearts are not for sale
and not for stealing.
Steal a face
make a mould
then the mask
sell it back
demand and obtain gratitude.
Or alternatively:
Destroy spirit
Conjure replacement
lace it with the usual poisons --
poor, underdeveloped, backward
and as Gourevitch said
the robbed inhabit
the robber's version
of their reality
and look up whispering
'rich, developed, advanced'.
But today
an identity was stolen:
picture pick
same name
new page
and yet
hearts are hearts
like heartbeats of nations
a hundred fakes
cannot draw spirit
cannot impoverish
cannot say 'this is who you are'.
Some hearts are not for sale
and not for stealing.