The Tender Tyranny of Gold
Alex Park '26

Suppose your heart truly was made of gold - what would you sell it for?

Would you wind it into wire?
Weld it into wedding rings
and shiny things
for gifts

                 from those whose lips
                                lack the audacity to articulate their affections?

And what would you do with this new, heartless cavity in your chest?
Replace it with a precious stone and hope it’ll pump the
same?
Or maybe finish the job and remove your tongue too
                so neither your soul
                               nor your senses
                               can savor.

​

These days,
we exert to exhaustion
                exhaust
                               to emptiness
                                            empty
                                                       to exertion.

​

We wield wills and work,
Weave worth and wages,
Wind wants and wealth,
until they’re one.

Suppose your heart truly was made of gold - who would you sell it to?

When beauty is bought by the highest bidder,

When kindness becomes a
         commodity -

warmth, an impropriety.

                                                                               Loss.

This is loss.

See loss -

See this loss

​

See how labors of love become

litter.

See tenacious teenagers

twisted and turned to

tokens

clinking in cans -

the suns in our souls subdued to silver.

the color in our creativity crushed and drained like a dream deferred.

But

beneath bloodshot eyes

and unheard cries,

blessings blossom.

Look.

See how the sun in your soul still shines.

Look.

See the peace and passion that persevere

Look

and you may even find the price tag

you acquired when working your wonder away.

Now,

suppose your heart truly was made of gold -

Would you break it from your body

​

or seal it in your soul?