This week, The Nation posted a letter written by poet Sharon Olds to First Lady Laura Bush in response to an invitation to read at the National Book Festival in Washington taking place tomorrow, the day of anti-war mobilization in the capital.

Writes Olds: “The prospect of a festival of books seemed wonderful to me. I thought of the opportunity to talk about how to start up an outreach program. I thought of the chance to sell some books, sign some books, and meet some of the citizens of Washington, DC. I thought that I could try to find a way, even as your guest, with respect, to speak about my deep feeling that we should not have invaded Iraq.

“But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you. I knew that if I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush Administration.

“So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds, and fire. I thought of the clean linens at your table, the shining knives, and the flames of the candles, and I could not stomach it.”

Related links:
Click here for the full letter posted on The Nation‘s website