All night, dreams of war
© Copyright 2004 Sherre Myers

t-birds cross the ocean
missiles in both directions
alien clones of red-haired
teens delivered to their deaths
carburetors combusting
down the ocean floor,
and underwater Mexican
laborers finish their game
of cards one woman holds
her breath

urine in the classroom, at the desk
a revolution at the school,
chaos the only cause I hold
my trembling brother,
trust in agency and laurels
try to stray the course
with soft words as his peers
claw through walls, gunshots down
the street and he would kill
to be a hero

civilians on an old bus
pushing toward the door
a black man, a solider,
a stranger in winter clothes
hands me up his daughter
she sleeps against my neck
doesn’t wake though he calls
her name to the window and I think
of the Titanic, and wait for the earth
to die