Gabriel Ertsgaard

Cold, Hard Truth

"Do you think racism will ever end?" My 10-year-old, biracial niece, innocent eyes bulging, leans across the Thai stir fry plate she's splitting with her mother. No, I think to myself. My sister: "Nope."

"But why not?" My internal monologue and my sister's voice: "Because people suck."

After lunch, strapped safely inside the beige SUV, my niece declares, "I'm glad that my mommy tells me the cold, hard truth." Then she cackles.

far beyond
this impassable river
olive groves bloom