This week, American Scholar and the writers at Next Line, Please find the answer to the question: What is the one thing that will save America? As it turns out, there were numerous answers, and thus, many wonderful poems, which editor David Lehman strings together in a spirited and intriguing post.
Not only do we get a glimpse into the world of John Ashbery's poem, "The One Thing That Can Save America," but also, we get a mini anthology of interesting ideas and some darn good lines!
Visit the American Scholar's page to read all the entries, and to enter your candidate for next week's competition: autumn haiku. Here is my favorite "one thing":
"The one thing that can save America" posted by Maureen
is not another Walmart. You could guess
Amazon—but you’d be wrong. No,
Starbucks didn’t invent it (like those lattes
you concede to liking lately). A daily dose
of it’s always good. Children are truly terrible
at containing it. Beware: it can be contagious.
When its volume gets too high, just try
suppressing it but don’t be surprised
if tears free-flow and you feel transcendent.
-- Virginia Valenzuela
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