in you shak
ing hands are all the small defeats
a day demands. 10- 6 or 9- 5 trying,
dying to survive. Never
knowing what survival means.
Leave the apartment to buy
alcohol. Hang our diplomas on
the bathroom wall. Pick at the
plaster chipped away,
survey some stunning tooth decay,
enlist the cat in the impending
class- war. Let's lay our bad
day down here, dear and make- be
lieve we're strong, or hum
some protest song. Like maybe
"We Shall Overcome
Someday." Overcome the stupid
things we say. Say I needed
more than this, say I needed one
more kiss. We left that light
on way too long now. Let's plant
a bomb at city- hall and kill
an MLA. We'll talk the night away. You call in sick,
I'll quit the
word- games that I play. I swear
I way more than half be lieve
it when I say that somewhere love
and justice shine.
Cynicism falls asleep. Tyranny talks
to itself. Sappy slogans
all come true. We forget to feed our fear.