A Poem From JL Kato

JL Kato is a professional editor who lives in Beech Grove with his wife, Mary. He recently visited El Salvador, where he was moved to write about the longterm effects of that nation’s civil war (1980 to 1992). The poem is part of a cycle inspired by titles of pop songs he heard his hosts sing during the trip. 

Dust in the Wind

Twenty years is not long enough
to sweep away the dust that accumulates on books,
the dust that settles on photographs,
the dust raised by my father’s shoes
    the day the death squad picked him up,
the dust stirred by dropping
    his body into a ditch
    during the dry season

The Indiana Humanities Council is posting poems on Think.Read.Talk. by Hoosier poets in celebration of National Poetry Month. Other Indiana celebrations include poetry readings at the Artsgarden (above the intersection of Illinois and Washington Streets, Indianapolis), performed each Monday at 12:15 p.m. For a schedule of events, click

here.