Do you see it now? Look around, damn it!
Again and again, it’s clear that the way is through.
Not over. Not under. No avoiding this obstacle:
It’s an adversary we must bisect and be done with, head on.

It’s growing everyday, look at main street, please!
We’re not getting any better, we’re not settling into this.
Every breath you draw is poison and yet you inhale freely.
Such faith! Such pride in your obilivity.

Can anyone else see it? They’re collecting little bags:
Filled with bits and pieces of what we had before it came.
Now it breathes fumes of plague in the windows,
Can’t you see we’re running out of time?

The only way through is to kill it.
It’s not going to die on its own.
Look at its scales of stone: it is immortal,
And yet, cracks in the armor, safe homes for starving spearheads.

Look around at the falling rubble, the turncoats standing idle.
Do you see it now? The only way forward?

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Copyright © 2022 Vincent C. Russo

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