united
we stand just beneath
the swinging gold powers
we’re all so tiny in grandfather’s clock
Pendulum prized old jewel
sometimes on their side
sometimes on ours
both sides try
both sides fail
to make it stay
and then we all trade
places red rover over the border
--on a hinge the Pendulum swings called--Antietam--Israel--Waterloo
--the 38th Parallel--the 28th of June in Sarajevo
--China’s Wall--Berlin’s Wall--the middle white aisle in Senate’s hall
blood runs red from uniforms blue
united and small we stand dirty
wet boots on tired old shoulders
reaching leaping building
tall towers some try
using rope like a
floss-sized
noose
some die
both guilty
both justified
it swings then back then forth
in grandfather’s clock
we all fight
united

Lovebird

.
Caged
Bright-feathered
Lovebird fakes a lovesong
Alone. Her instincts wait and ache for him
to arrive. She sighs with eyes fixed
on the door, and cries on the floor. Save her!
The bright feathers
Droop and fade
While she
Dies.

Pyramid

.
Rock-
Hard Leaders
Grind us with oppression.
In mid-air we're forced to conform, faces shorn.
Hanging and dangling, we're held captive in
Uniform. Wait--attached to their heartstrings
With care, we're spared.
Nothing down
there but
air.

.

Hot
Desire
Is the Liberator.
Takes us new places; we meet new faces.
Ennobles, emboldens. We grow wings,
It compensates empty spaces, fills our heart,
Then breaks our heart,
And never
Lets us
Go.