Emergency
I can follow this sorrow only as far
as the blood makes puddles beyond my sober
reach, beyond this glass screen.
Hard to watch babies bleed.
I freeze the frame.
They keep dying.
An endless loop of
Heart lurching horror.
Flesh ripped, bones crushed.
In God’s name.
BLOOD STAINED CLOUD
The rain left this land.
The river is homeless,
its bed dried out and crusty.
Even the sun is on a dry drunk.
It sets behind the bruised, purple, black berry colored clouds.
Cursing the moon.
She blows the sun a kiss.
Leaning elbows on the bar with the other drunks.
Air heavy with a silence poisoned.
We are lost.
It takes less than a month.
Dreams burn like paper promises written
on weak spines of a cheap novel with big words.
Empty promises to pay. So sorry about the damage.
Sad weddings, happy funerals.
Walk across the river bed. Jump the mighty Miss river.
Four feet deep under the ancient over pass at Baton Rouge.
Shallow as the promises made by exxon and all
the lying Assholes in pickup trucks.
They love the smell of Diesel Dikes roasting in Hell.
Wear it as a sign on their foreheads.
It doesn’t take long for hearts to die.
Losing hope is the first warning sign.
We drown the tears with silliness.
Emergency.