Dad made up stories
about a girl named Yasumé
Yasumé, at ease, in Japanese,
his favorite word—
the Japanese who, that day,
would spare him the bayonet.
Yasumé on a flying carpet,
soaring over oceans
and countries, in sum,
the world,
powered by a word.
Laura Foley is the author of four poetry collections including The Glass Tree, which won the Foreword Book of the Year Award, and Joy Street, which won the Bi-Writer’s Award. Her poems have appeared in journals and magazines including Valparaiso Poetry Review, Atlanta Review, Inquiring Mind, Pulse Magazine, Weatherings, Poetry Nook, Lavender Review, The Mom Egg Review, and many others. www.laurafoley.net.
A Quiet Courage 