Don’t #1
When America calls don’t answer

It’s a waning power
still advertising splendor
trying to lasso you into its orbit
I search for an exit sign in the dark
knowing it has nothing but reins to offer

When America calls don’t answer

Every film it exports
every drone it deploys
must be shut out or shot down
until it has no more soft war veneer
and all its jagged teeth are exposed
devouring every map and every dream

Don’t call America when desperate

It’s salivating at your border
ready with its brand of disaster    
It’s everywhere it can post a flag
wherever it can dig a ditch or deal a loan
it’s transcontinental

The world is an oyster without a pearl
but America keeps diving

Sometimes I wish it’d drown
even if it takes me with it
maybe you’d survive
and cut the line

America can’t kill us all

Don’t #2
Things haven’t gotten bad they’re getting worse
A necessary distinction to make

about how to live while envisioning the grave

Shy away from thirst out of embarrassment

Water a cactus hoping it’ll flower

realize I want beauty when I already have strength

Is it too late for sweet things?

Things have gotten so bad that everyone is noticing.

I’m not late to the party I’ve already left

The other guests linger till the last drop of wine, for the final sips to rust

When you love someone after you’ve lost faith in them

the emptiness grows neglecting your disappointment

Things can always get worse
sitting around quietly handwringing
All those wasted days time traveling to a made-up past

back when you were still proud calling yourself an American

Nothing can run on fumes forever
so before the point of no return
I let old grievances sprout new expectations

On the ground, all that matters is practice

Everything I try now is a refusal to believe that this is it

Don’t you know? We’ve never had anything as good as we can get.