1/28/1986

when they stood
on that brink
of impatience and pride

when anger overrode facts
and reason didn’t matter

Damn that impulse

your outburst that severed truth
and shouted over fear
leaving us appalled

you left death in your wake
where’s your impatience now

they were flying for us
you couldn’t silence our hope

Even Ink Can Burn

Even ink can burn
We now believe lies
Refusing to remember truth

And the false prophets laugh
Look what we made them believe

Do you remember integrity
Ever working for good
Remembering a high call

We listened relatively
Then it stopped

Shallow

Shallow land you
Throw confetti like
Important ticket tape
No hero no hero

Shallow air you
Claim to oxygenate
Refresh and rejuvenate
Nothing true nothing true

Shallow words you
Spill out in hyperbole
Trade quality for quantity
Never new never new

Fences

Not all fences divide
some run seemingly
forever leaning,
hanging on while
weeds overtake and
barbed wire wavers.

We bend against
our broken boundaries.
Draw a line
move the dirt.

We plow and scatter
these fading borders,
I’m here.
You’re there.
They are somewhere else.

Pick a decade
or a hundred years.
Outskirts fade
the fields don’t care.

All fences divide
but not forever.

(c) 2019