one instant,
a certain structure, which
someone somewhere
once was immensely proud of,
collapses—
no demolition, no thunder,
no hurricane—just
collapses.
Perhaps
due to humidity-induced
cellular expansion;
perhaps
when a sandpiper's sand-dappled
wing flaps
three thousand miles
northwest, on the coast
of Alaska.
Now, go ahead;
try to convince the council.
Tell us which words
from which
chance encounter we'll remember.
Tell us
whose action
will matter
the most.
