Burning
Buried in a shallow grave
like the Manhattan Project lodged in St. Ann’s side
the wound weeps as a fire kindles
an atomic civil war
under the garbage of our past
Tear ducts drown from ancestors wronged
while new generations get in line
as offerings to the delusional gods
Money and Power
a pound of flesh for every pound of wealth
The political tongue wrestling over this land
“divided we stand but united we fall”
echoes sentiments of ruins from Greece to Rome
and yet the blinded keep wandering
through stores and malls
buying up the last remains
of the good ol’ Amerikkkan dream
before everyone awakens to the expired glory
found in Landfill Heaven
White pointy caps ripped off
freed of masks
proudly marching five finger salutes
and waving supremacy flags
through empty streets of the once called great cities
Now sterile habitats for Wealth and his henchmen
making no room for colorful silks, linens, and cottons
Like an old song playing from 1942
The crowds dance to
Hate Greed War
They can’t see themselves
in the mirrored buildings
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or on TV screens
So taken by their loss of status
in this crumbling pyramid scheme
Thinking they’re part of “the club”
they cheer
while eternally standing behind
the blood soaked red rope
Some say
he’s the laughing stock of the entire world
this Grand Poobah of the new
Korporate Kalonial Klan
Now he’s taken over
and no one is laughing
No one except him and those few
who sold their souls and those around them
to follow in his wake of
rubble and ash
But remember —
this kind of loud mouthed roaring fire
bellowing empty promises of cinders and smoke
eventually dies down
to a smoldering simmer of hot embers and coals
can always be dampened and cooled
if the flames not fed
and splashed with liquid from hearts pouring
Love Kindness Compassion Empathy Generosity Care
This kind of fading fire
as it gasps for one last breath
just like those that came before
will eventually peter out
with a whimper and a sigh
Revised: Poem from Heirs of November
KM Sharp is a poet, writer, MSW, activist, producer and photographer originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, moved to Los Angeles, California and now lives as a digital nomad traveling and exploring the world. She has performed in shows and events nationally and internationally and her poetry and writings appear in various publications and anthologies. KM is the author of two ebooks, I Become One and Heirs of November. Check out her arts & travel blog/publication at TravelArtistsHub
