Atomic Bomb Footage in Reverse 

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1.

 

Glass animals lining the mantle,

 

ordered from a catalog, the living room TV 

 

aglow with celebrity. 

 

Eyes murky like dishwater, reading the

 

medicine labels, a smile memorized 

 

like praying for rain.

 

2.

 

The sky a blue veil, draped over a dark beyond.

 

Humans humbled, infinity obscured.

 

A forkful of inedible plants, face exposed and

 

excoriated by ribbons of wind and allergens.

 

Crows, like a shotgun blast, scattered

 

beyond the pawn shop.

 

 

3.

 

How does a king number the stones in his mountain? 

 

All things cascading and rearranged. 

 

The machinery of guilt lubricated,

 

producing endless permutations of misconduct 

 

clouds bombarded the sky

 

like watching atomic bomb footage in reverse.

 

 

4.

 

Wind pushing an empty swing at the park, 

 

The traffic lights cycling perfunctory. 

 

And in my window, there is no sun.

 

Desire not tampered by possession, 

 

we continually ache for more. 

 

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