Congratulations to Boston's New Poet Laureate -- And a Poem

Congratulations to Danielle Legros Georges

Poem for the Poorest Country In the Western Hemisphere


Oh poorest country, this is not your name.

You should be called beacon, and flame,


almond and bougainvillea, garden

and green mountain, villa and hut,


little girl with red ribbons in her hair,

books-under-arm, charmed by the light


of morning, charcoal seller in black skirt,

encircled by dead trees.


You, country, are the businessman

and the eager young man, the grandfather


at the gate, at the crossroads

with the flashlight, with the light,


with the light.