The Fall of Rome
When your freedom – of speech – is the gag – that’s stuffed down – your throat,
When fanatical – righteousness – throws – kids out – on the street,
When the rusty – democracy – grudgingly – grinds – to a halt,
And when sated – indifference – renders –space travel – obsolete,
When – there are – so many of us – in this shitpile,
how come – we all feel – so alone?
As we wait
for the fall
of Rome.
When your brother – has gone off – to fight – an invisible – war,
When inflation – devalued – the currency – of human rights,
When the wall – that once ran – thru Berlin – now carves – the New World,
When in our – border towns – shotguns – play at justice – at night,
Tell me, how is it – that you manage – to smile?
How can you – feel safe – in your home?
As you wait
for the fall
of Rome.
When extinction – stares up at us – mutely – from our – dinner plates,
When we are – prostituting – our colleges – out – for cents,
When instead of – red blood – black petroleum – runs – thru our veins,
When we put – makeup on our – aggression – and call it – defense,
When each evening – I’m praying – for visions,
But all – that I dream of – is porn –
Then I wait
for the fall
of Rome.
Julie Deshtor 