and leave the bones, rocks, broken glasses

to be seen: change. morph. weep.

a cat leaps out of the bag, then returns quickly

when larger predators hang about,

swimming, circulating to find a weak spot

the pirate tries to flee enemies eager to hang a vile man!

but it is too soon, said the juries when the sea tosses

turns and dyes a man black, red and purple

and of who he is, we know not.

pssst. the administrators nudge the vacant eyes

for the sharks are coming from afar, making haste

because justice has been slow, restlessness becomes chaotic.

rebellion, a pull back, an undercurrent strong

where dyes get pushed out of skin, coloring the sickly green

mother trying to handle three jobs, while her parents themselves

cannot stop wailing that the crumbs have long since been eaten.

no more, no less, just hanging above water level

a soft gentle wave means a suffocation, a dragging down

into where bones call bones, “we’re lonely here”

and psst … … the juries nudge each other, let’s not wait

no more news will come, perfection dribbles out of idealism

a balloon shrinks when cold air hits, drooping heads in a classroom

filled with weary kids, exhausted from the last exercise regime,

nodding, falling, till the hand slaps come, wake up.

yesterday’s left becomes today’s right, brackish waters form

as the pendulum goes too far, the ding dong bell

signals that the visitor has long last arrived

then judgment will be swift, mercy drank like gold

for paradise is found only in a belief.

aye, aye, says the clergy man to the rich man weighed in sin,

you’re forgiven, then takes his money willingly given.

thank you he said,

bought a new paradise and then the ding dong sound came again,

another visitor enters the house, the pirate dashed out with his loot,

told the sharks: get the juries now before i lose my footing,

and they did, they were without justice, jaws clamping down

hard even as innocence was cried out, no more, no more cried

the next visitor who finally laid hold of the pendulum,

no more, stop moving, be still, he said sternly

then did the bones, the broken glass and rocks

rise to the surface, the beliefs shattered like a rainbow scattering

when brackish water settled down, lukewarm became hot, cold, distilled.