High treason

Grant Wood

Stone City Iowa

High treason

I do not love my country.

Its abstract splendor is beyond my grasp.

But (although it sounds bad) I would give my life

for ten places in it, for certain people,

seaports, pinewoods, fortresses,

a run-down city, gray, grotesque,

various figures from its history,

mountains
(and three or four rivers).

~ José Emilio Pacheco ~