What do saints think about sorrow?
Sorrow in its sincerity
And its comfort
Sorrow that brings me closer to God

What do they think about pain?
Pain and its escape
The kind of pain that is necessary
The kind of pain that comes from love

What do they think about kicks and good times?
Taking too many vacations
Just doing a little bit of drugs
And buying new cars

What do they think of generation Y Indian princes?
Being born into lower middle class riches
And no plans on going anywhere anytime soon
Suitcases too full to take anywhere

What do they think of the American flag?
With colors of royalty
And children placing hands over hearts
But too young to pronounce “allegiance” correctly

What do they think of Catholic guilt?
Or rosary bead tattoos
How can we possibly understand love
As well as a monk reading the New Testament in the Himalayas

Do they value the dollar?
And if they do
I’ll be sure to send stamp money
They must be expensive outside Samsara

 

© 2013 Allison Goldin

 

Allison Goldin is an artist living in Cambridge. Her work is a collection of spontaneous drawings from the imagination. The most common link throughout her art are the semi-recognizable creatures scattered amongst and bringing together the surrounding doodles. She is currently studying Illustration at The School of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

C.S. Smith is a 22 year old poet from Boston, MA. Many people have asked him why he writes, but he can’t ever think of anything to say besides, “Because I don’t know how to stop…”