Cradle

rows of windowless dull 

rusting metal heaps 

ancient dinosaur skulls 

blasted wheels on cracked 

pavement dried vein 

or stone scar sealed 

with black tar opening

crumbling at encroaching

roots 

power lines down

grid of rubble 

dust ash 

yellowed bone

in shadowed valleys of towering 

progress some rats starve

halfway between 

this borough barrow

and the next 

the tube’s lone serpent 

cradles her silent eyeless 

without complaint

continental teeth grit

chews into throaty trenches 

cleaned its slate plate swallowed

what thoughts? what philosophy? what laws? what triumphs? 

what despairs? what justice? 

what 

injustice? 

what resources? what humanity? what great

inevitable

dying?

the oblivion complete 

eons pass until the

star swollen with unknowing 

chaos consumes the last vestige 

of a small 

brown 

dot

 - - -

in the night

the sound of wet

wind-blown leaves

car tires rolling over 

the smell of rain-soaked streets

inside sleeping

my beloveds breathing

desire 

for their happiness 

fills my whole heart

purpose

soothes me back 

to dreaming