EXPEDITION DAY?

by Nick Jaina

You are the separated dawn
igniting the roof that we’re all on
you are the constant hurricane
overwhelming the weather vane
but there’s a problem
just one problem
if my roots are shallow
and my fields lay fallow

we’re on an expedition day
off in the wings of someone’s play
all of our replicating cells
are ringing out like temple bells
but there’s a problem
just one problem
no one pays at check out
no one sticks their neck out
tightrope wires in tension
the great empire’s ascension

avoiding the politician’s gaze
trying to decide which cancer stays
all in a murder so discreet
there were no cops assigned the beat

there’s a problem
just one problem
there’s a problem