You fought to line the streets
naked and unflinching under
car headlights and cat calls.
Stars and Stripes draped over your
most Godly sons and daughters
and still your stomach curls
into itself and you reach for the
good-time pipe.
Brothers and sisters sit fat in their
cars, convenience shopping at Drive-Thrus
and you sip the dregs of leftover coffee.
Children shake and splutter towards
morbid squalor, the American Dream of ripped out windows and being
crane lifted to the floor.
You fought to line your streets
head bowed in silent prayer
to social media Gods.
Fingers patter $$$ but you pay with health and social commentary.
The divide of death and life
and survival and flourishing
evermore present.
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