Conversation 68

Dark Command

(for Howard)

He vowed no food would cross his lips
until the roar of slaughter ceased
‘twixt corpses loaded onto ships
a rough-skinned newt does find its niche

Until the roar of slaughter ceased
our headlines spoke of suicides
can rough-skinned newts feel climate grief?
each kinglet rules its countryside

Our headlines spoke of suicides
of heat domes, fire, smoke and floods
each kinglet rules its countryside
there is a cancer in our blood

The heat domes, fire, smoke and floods
etch their truth across this land
there is a cancer in our blood
as sure as sunset’s dark command

Let’s etch our truth across this land
with art and chains and superglue
embrace each sunset’s dark command
to wake and face the world anew

With art and chains and superglue
‘twixt corpses loaded onto ships
we’ll foul the gears, distract the crew
we vow this breath shall cross our lips