and now
the weather report
tonight will be cold
mostly cloudless
the earth will exhale
homeless who do not have
a sleeping bag
or a tent to crawl into
or a car empty of gas but with windows
they will slide
into chambers like bullets
that can’t can’t can’t can’t
penetrate flesh
or tolerance
lucky for them
this is the coast
where the ice age
doesn’t descend
in sheets of actual ice
lucky for them
the weather is mild
lucky for them
lucky
they are lucky
they are knives
seen through windows
turn turn turn up the radio
they cannot cut
if they are sheathed
their cardboard magic spells
their incantations
they will not not not alter this
they will go hungry
they will become hungry ghosts
they will be silent as a vacuum is silent
This is compassionate
Thank you, sir.
Reminds me of Joni Mitchell–
“Some get the gravy
And some get the gristle
Some get the marrow bone
And some get nothing
Though there’s plenty to spare”
“humanity” indeed. (K)
Unfortunately true.
Powerful write…
Thank you.
they will slide
into chambers like bullets
that can’t can’t can’t can’t
penetrate flesh
or tolerance
You blow my mind, and also make me want to cry and scream then cry and scream some more.
Thank you.