Minnesota

January 25, 2026 Poet: David Hoffmann Artwork: Knowledge by Ann DiSalvo

Minnesota

at first glance

her eyes

drew me closer

silently she spoke

as if she knew me

returning her gaze

I stepped towards her

as if I knew her

though not her name

nor from where

I wondered—

If like my mom— and her mom—

if she

was

from Minnesota

her beckoning eyes

trying to hide sadness

were haunting

silently they spoke

capturing words

on the tip

of my tongue

perhaps—

I will write to her

I will write

unspoken words

words—

then left

on a folded

piece of paper

words—

I will

put in my pocket

to be

mailed

to Minnesota

words—

I have not spoken

to someone

I would have liked

to have known

I would write words

she would then lock away

forever

locked away

forever in her chest

like having to hide a child

from

prying eyes

words—

locked away

unseen

words—

written to her

locked away

written to her

from someone

who she

never knew

whose name she

never heard

from where they came

she never will know

someone whose tearful eyes

silently speaking

will remain ever unseen

will remain ever unseen

someone who will

forever wonder

if she was

taken

from Minnesota