body of evidence

past red tin roofs and barns lost to original purpose
defying the fog at dawn, awaiting the arrival of an imperious sun
rickety cars on dusty, rubber tires roll across the fruited plane
ants through fields of chiaroscuro, harvest-browns
where ancestors resigned to fatigue and weariness
the radio drones news from the wars
still waged in the opposite world
in irregular spasms, a dog barks to mark time
measure for measure, in centimetered disaffections
will is surrendered and we succumb to the loneliness

the sun's fingers filter through bare branches
to claw at pale hands and puffy cheeks
products of an impetuous courtship,
a new litter of barn cats makes their debut
there are new leaves in the old gutters
tired, green, and brown and crunchy leaves
screaming orange and pornographic red ones
children are scattered to the winds of chance
to seek the love and adoration of lesser gods
with a fork still dripping with tomatillo salsa
the veil of innocence is pressed to pierce
eyes unaccustomed to enlightenment, slowly
but surely, this patient sociopath,
life is killing us all