GUILFORD — Here, embedded in this half-cocked
coup is a tacit murder-suicide pact.
Witness the rage of pawns.
* * *
Unbridled white guys, and a clutch
of women (one of whom will take a bullet),
muscle into our sacred chambers.
* * *
Here, they break the rites, manhandle
heirlooms, ransack keepsakes,
revel in their easy terror.
* * *
•
* * *
Those who stride out, cower, cough,
crow, who show the selfie;
* * *
Those who, gloved and badged, must walk
the pale marauders back, unscathed;
* * *
Those who scoop the wrath and file
the super-spread, defiant feature;
* * *
Those who disinfect, collect the shards,
restore the sheen of safety;
* * *
Those who reconvene, speechify,
and grind thru governing all night;
* * *
Those whose day will live in infamy
may learn our carefree virus never sleeps.