the war within
rumor has it
they’re blowing
everything up
one block at a time
nobody believes it though
claiming they don’t
have the resources
—that it’s all talk
the curtain
slightly adjusted
one eye peers out the window
shadowy figures
darting from door to door
checking the locks
& leaving pamphlets
for now the neighborhood
is safe
but has never
been any scarier
october two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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