after Kaveh Akbar
overton overton since you moved out east
we’ve all been dissolving our history
can’t you feel the fissures from your home
among the bread and circuses the question still
between right and left we crave the thrill
of each trap you set the culture wars
the breaking news we forget that Rome
didn’t fall in a day such fables so often inaccurately told
our eyes cloud over our spines start to warp
all our outrage rusts into worship
America when you were young your hull and keel
swayed gently through each tack and jibe I trailed your wake
I’d hoped to float along a steadier current ride
the gulf stream the southbound Mississippi immovable skiff
how much of the ballot did you leave
unmarked everyone went silent
binge-watching a creeping new normal
narrated by chorus
thechorussmolderedtorage
someone struck the opening bell and all
the rage rang out