THE THREAD | a new poem

We sat on those steps and kissed until

a Capitol guard said we can’t do that here

—this  was before we had kids

before new wars and epic fights

before recession before pumping at work

before Yes We Can and Hell No You Can’t

before Karen woke snowflakes before

Stand back and stand by before breaches

before the live footage of their boots

roaring toward the rotunda before

they built gallows on the terrace—

we sat on those steps with mouths unfolding

bracing ourselves with scaffolds of dreams

until the guard came to shoo us away

as if our presence was cause for concern

and our softness the more eminent threat

and maybe it still is—who knows—maybe  

we still are.

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What I’m currently reading: Whitney Terrell’s King of Kings County

What I’m currently listening to: MUNA