Star687

I rest on

The stiff wooden bench

With a view of the lake.

I scroll on my phone,

Oblivious.

I then look to the heavens,

But see little there,

Just endless ribbons of cloud

Strung over blue.

on november first we said

ohgodit'snovemberalreadywheredidallthetimego taking

up all the time in the world with our breath.

on november fifth we said

ohgodpleaseprotectushavemercyonoursins praying

Around and around,

Plunging downward,

Soaring.

Floating, 

Just for a moment.

A bird,

Lost in ecstasy,

Unaware of the coming end.

Slowing, drifting down,

We stop.

I scroll through the options

Endless rows

And rows

And rows

Of smileys

And animals

And faces

And people

And things.

I scroll through the multicolored hearts

The laughing faces

I hear about all the things he does,

But what can I do?

Signs,

Bumper stickers,

Voices,

Celebrate the end.

For democracy, 

Our country, 

Ukraine, 

the LGBTQIA2+ community,

Whisked away,

In a dark unknown.

Long fingers pull us out.

Scrutinize.

We’re unlaced,

Laced again,

Step by step we thud against the ground.

White turns to gray,

Soles become worn,