jdubqca

setting water on fire

       1
some assembly required
is what the ushers
told the animals
as they escorted them
into the amphitheatre
seating the smaller ones
in the front rows
& going from there

       2
the sky was all lit up
thanks to a couple greek gods
brightening the flora
that flourished
on the outer edges of the world
abundant stardust
keeping them well fed

       3
this story’s been told before
how a man
removed the heart of another
offered it to the sky
[still beating]
& none of the animals
looked away

       4
the skies opened
as if to say there is nothing
to look at
the show is over
be gone be gone

       5
there was no place to go
& the rains wouldn’t stop
all the animals in the world
were left bewildered
wondering why man chose
to squander apparent intelligence

       6
it was supposed to be
a day of rest
instead the oceans were on fire




may two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved