The Collapse Is Imminent

A Poem

Photo by Elia Pellegrini on Unsplash

i tell myself secrets
in the whims of words
splashed in acrylics
across my mindscape

would you join me?
or is that asking too much?

i sing, start-stop-start,
my heartbeat hammering
in its awkward noise
as my voice wobbles a note

would you join me on stage?
or are we still strangers tonight?

i watch the world
and shake my head
when it doesn’t please me —
but who am i to say a word?

what do you think?
can this floating rock be saved?

i promise myself i’ll be better
than anyone they could vote in —
but we’re all only human, aren’t we,
and so prone to mistakes?

should we raise our hands in protest?
or will you just turn away again?

i wish there were easy answers
rather than sound bytes to calm
in times of far too much distress,
but we are so very weak indeed