Walls

which performed would
i might be able to live here

when you’re in trouble
you said tumbleweed

it’s nearing midnight
they have blood walking
cramps erupt to plague and
i want to read you
mistranslation of documents
circulation i hear you in my ears

facing the wall
i hear someone singing outside
the sound of the traffic in your wrist
the highway through the door in your hands

windows defining their own route
next place you go     say
i feel like i like it here
traintracks around the moon’s
hat brim

from Yew Nork (2014)

After the Bombing (for the Peace President)

my ears believe in science
but then i hear your promises
and see the world you’ve blown up
the dead bodies of truth the lies
of braggadocio    the true belief
of broken religious relics    the relics
that hear you rant and then cheer
religion is good for you when you proclaim yourself god

people who search the ruins for life
may be trying to hear their loved ones’ voices
from under the concrete death you’ve engendered
they might believe in science too but what you’ve given them
is the chance to believe you then know they’re fooling themselves
the search goes on    seeking reality    to match hope

Written August 10, 2025

Another Dream Poem

you wake up and you’re back at dictators high school
you find out you should have been at your history class
fifteen minutes ago

you get to the classroom door and sneak in
all the other students    are the same age you were
when you were in high school
and they’ve all studied
you haven’t studied at all

you find a desk
inside the desk is a spiral-bound book
of fascist propaganda     you open it up
the student next to you whispers
don’t worry    all you have to do is sign it
do that    and you’ll be president some day

Written August 2, 2025