following Great Leader, [us] backwards

Today’s agenda is to scribble
fill blank page with handwriting
top to bottom scrawl of script
looping as it wants to flow

Make rhymes or rhythms or
let lines slant away from each other
into something said anew.

Now share the beauty

[us] Aunts spread tables in pies
pecan, fruited, creamed
some homemade, some purchased

[us] Sisters bring salads by the gallons
pastas, potatoes, green beans, jellos
mostly probably purchased

[us] Brother shares venison jerky
shot and butchered by his own hand
some of [us] will like it

I rejoice and am glad at the doing of the thing

These are the nuances lost at thirty miles per hour headed downhill.

The driver probably tagged you Mental, decided Hobo. Fair enough. The barrier between Chronic Pain and Craziness is as transparent as a white t-shirt washed hundreds of times. The distance from Home to Homeless a partner with a paycheck.

Wearing your white t-shirt that ¿why do you keep mending? It’s a rag. ¡Let me use it to clean up. In your cargo shorts that will only ever be shorts; will never be zipped into the form of pants again.

[us] will gift you a #1 gold airplane
you will invite [us] to your B-day parade
[us] will be grandstand, front row, fan friends

cheer the marching band
each fierce, precise row
invading [us] streets

Second language signage is costly
panamanians speak like you do
[us] arrange an introduction soon

If [us] house you, [us] budget will break
Costa Rica has free room for more
[us] transport the whole family now

Your cheap salaries drain [us] accounts
Colombia wants new laborers
[us] schedule your interview today

Your kid’s school was deprioritized
Mexico is filling a new class
[us] put in a few good words for you

I’m educated / connected / white
give me all your futures

I’m suited / tied / white
give me all your votes

it’s the price of progress
the sages shake their heads sadly
what’re ya gonna do?
apply pressure and they’ll threaten
take back their contributions

so we are left behind
part dead fish
part open sewer
part cancer unchecked