Events Like Me

And then the president

Or someone blew up the buildings.

Then the mongrels took over. 

They made it plain as day,

Heartless tongues awag. 

They cut along the dotted line,

Two snakes emerged, each

A hissing lullaby for the baby

Bundles out on a limb. 

Then the whole nation wept. 

The whole weeping nation then wept

For revenge.  Patriot nobodies

Built bonfires at the center of the park.

One neighbor has two of everything. 

One likes the challenge of bows

And arrows.  Spark ribbons

Twirl in the black sky.

Fire burns up all the best ideas. 

The fire’s idea rises on its own heat

Like a balloon or a diver

Has to hold it in, yellow flames

Glide by on the fender of a 50

Something outlined in silvery light. 

Smiles recreate the moment,

Mother folding laundry, her back a curve

Of aches and pains like a sea-bitten

Tree.  I taste salt on my lips, as it

Was and should be, of earth

When it comes to me, in my heart that bleeds.

Around the planet the same probe

Takes place, the same pace

Of inquiry, the same

Interrogation. Money talks

Up what money makes

Like we speak lovingly of babies,

Milestones of growing old,

Of apples and pears,

Money is life enough for money

To bear, playing songs

It loves itself to hear.  Can I last

Out those who now rise up

Like their grandfathers

Against enemies of the word,

Enemies of rolling Rs, coughing
Gs, the straight and narrow Ss?
Friends of a god whose martyrdom
Masquerades as a misery party

Of unrequited love?

That’s when I think it’s good

To be a mortal, when I appreciate

Such a limited event as me.

And yet I have my days 

When even that's too much

Nothingness to be.