Thursday, March 3, 2022

THE SHIP

These days, 
everyone you pass 
in the streets 

looks queasy.
In every compass- and rudder-
less city, 

it seems 
they have their reasons: 

the months
of doubt and deceit 
have been rough seas,

and too much 
bad medicine 
scored with a handshake 

has been swallowed
too fast behind 
back-alley addresses.

And yet, from the TV screens 
none will confess 

that the tempest 
has exacted
the ultimate cost

and the brightest and best 
will maintain 
until death

that the ship can't be sinking 
because the violins 
aren't playing yet,

and all of the rats 
are still 
here among us.