are you okay? in poetry

there’s no time left for redemption
even less for closure
we’re thick as thieves and
we’re as thin as sin and losing our composure
this goddamn midnight sun
it’s gonna be a scorcher
but that’s the only way now
to let the light in

it all got blown to shit
the past is gone
just memories to
help us carry on
the time for blame goes fast
when you’re knocked onto your ass
when you’re straight-up fucked
but the arc of history
is still so long

the cops are in the hall
our backs are to the wall
there’s no more point in
theory or disguise
they’ve got their smiling god
they clearly have the odds
but we’ve the moral high ground and
the crazy in our eyes

it’s not “hello” anymore
when a friend walks through the door
the reflex question now
“are you okay?”
who knows maybe we
could have dodged the madness
had it never been “hello”
had it always been that way

no redemption and there isn’t any closure
the reward is being safe
not tortured or locked away
but to begin again
to let the light back in
we start with that question once more
“are you okay?”

Last updated November 13, 2016