THROWAWAYS / by Joe Castorino

A poem inspired by Pope Francis

The greatest generation:

Now they are the

Elder statesmen

And elder stateswomen

Of our beloved country;

So why do we so often

Toss remembrance of them

Out of the car windows

Of our busy minds,

Like empty aluminum cans,

Into the neglected gutters

Of life’s forgotten highways?

Do we love them?

Or do we use them?