Mary Jo Salter

 

SOUTH AMERICA 

 

Every year South America disappears.

It was just here; South America disappears.

 

It lies on the map as flat as a flying saucer.

Then, gone like that! as on a flying saucer.

 

There were people there, but they belonged to the past.

That South America?  You're wrong if you think it could last.

 

You're wrong if you think you can climb in your time machine

and get what that South America tried to mean. 

 

You're wrong, in fact, if you think the future would try

to come back to you.  Go ahead and cry.

 

It's gone, like South America, because it's where

nothing is anything when you think it's there. 

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