there ought to be
love stations 
where people could go

who weren’t nurtured 
enough in their early years

you’d approach and be met
by outstretched arms 

and into you 
would come an outpouring

of what you’d been yearning for:
self-esteem, social grace, courage,
calm

a more civilized society 
would provide this 
instead of filling stations for cars

parents too
having had parents themselves
would be encouraged
to use the love stations

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Betsy Martin is the author of the poetry chapbook, Whale’s Eye (Presa Press). Her poetry has appeared in Atlanta Review, The Briar Cliff Review, The Cape Rock, Cloudbank, Crack the Spine, The Green Hills Literary Lantern, Juked, The Louisville Review, The Penmen Review, Pennsylvania English, Typehouse Literary Magazine and many others. She has advanced degrees in Russian language and literature. She is also an artist. Visit her at betsymartinpoet.com.