the swell of the smell of
baking bread
with the spices still entwined
in the ridges and lines
of my hands
[the morning between
an economic blackout day
and a snow day]
[we can be a cozy, homey couple
when we want to be]
the swell of the smell of
baking bread
with the spices still entwined
in the ridges and lines
of my hands
[the morning between
an economic blackout day
and a snow day]
[we can be a cozy, homey couple
when we want to be]
total economic blackout
[though i forgot about ads
on language learning apps]
[hopefully that barely counts
in the grand scheme of
telling the leadership
the country
the world
that we disagree
wholeheartedly
with what is happening
to our democracy
specifically
in minneapolis, minnesota]
we support you from afar,
midwest warriors —
keep pouring that water
around the tires;
freeze them out
in order to make
ice
melt
why isn’t it more acceptable
to protest with
citizenship?
[i mean, i know why
logistically
but wouldn’t that be an interesting world to live in
if it was actually feasible to do so?]
how long
until
a change
is made
a change
that will
benefit
us all
not long
not long
not long
we chant
not long
not long
at all
getting choked up
at rallies where we all chant
“we are New Yorkers”
to signify we won’t be beaten down
or give in
to fascism
literally tearing up
while reading the world’s responses
to our mayoral primary
“that’s my mayor”
in Cleveland
in Virginia
in New Zealand
in Europe
those damn tote bags were right —
don’t you dare call me an american
i’ve never had any
pride in my country
but don’t you dare forget
that i’m a New Yorker
and my chosen city
stands up for all our
beliefs
and when we get together on something
don’t you dare forget
what we can all accomplish
as New Yorkers
together