In my world there is iron and concrete.
There are rusted pendulums and mute birds
There are time bombs and dictators.
There is faith and there is reason
subjectivity
objectivity
And there, out there, is reality,
But none of us can see it through the barbed wire and the
Iron and concrete.

You told me how much you wanted
Us to be us forever and
I don't understand why you're so
Upset that I made it happen.
Yellowed shreds of gauze
And dense murky tombs keep you
For me.

Where have your stars fallen, little bird?
Your feathers seem slick with oil
And your eyes are glazed. Are you alright, little bird?
Your talons shudder to grip the sand beneath you.
And it's hard to see from here, but is one of your wings clipped?
You poor little bird.

You know what? I'm glad I don't cry anymore. It's a waste of good water.

Trying to find the words to say is pointless.
I can't write poetry about how much
Hatred
You inspire in me.

I can remember sitting at a vigil in your name.
Breathing in black towers of smoke with a smile.
You protected me from evil, from harm.
You assured me that
Every opposing ideology would perish in a spangled
Red
White
and blue flame.

I loved you.
I don't care about the colors anymore.
I just want you to burn.

Everything you know

Is what was sold to you.

But keep smiling and keep eating and keep drinking

(that’s an order)

Because anesthesia is cheap these days

I heard once that money makes

The world

Go ‘round.

I’m not like Einstein but

I know a thing or two about books

and

I know a thing or two about

War

And I’d say

We’re at terminal velocity