poem for democracy
Meditation / the cat rubs against me
the dog upstairs barks and barks
ambient hums of heating systems around me
Walking to vote, cold in my coat
woman waits for a bus
only her eyes are exposed
The electronic ballot taunts me
Kucinich still on the list
alas an illusion
Walking home after voting
stray pages of school reports scattered among roadside ivy
HYPOTHESIS
bluejay screech from tree branches
socked-in gray sky shares no secrets
I try to focus on breath
but worry about money
(cause I’ve got none)