FEDERAL RESERVE
I.
the strategy not melodious or even
whatta ya give me for
ink obdurate thumbprint
one part (trace) apology
the other insistence
II.
Nature
relegate
note the rounded bill
tender sparse as must be now
reserve a place for safe keeping
sanctuary
simulacre
murderous posse just before dawn
lumber forest service lands
"of many uses"
check the urban, register the foundation
white gull glides in the updraft by the Richmond bridge
bucking the system
note the antler height above the shoulder
otherwise a different kettle of fish/like shootin em in a barrel
benefits of ravaging
what gain to ourselves false
poll prescriptive voice
note the
only call we have is our own
III.
we tried to build fences around everything
certain plants and dark skinned people,
the mountainside, the animals,
our genitals, the sky.
The fences took on different polemics
histrionic: will no longer exist
prophetic: their sons will come to kill us
the animals accommodate their cages and the soil dissipates,
many species disappear, forests disintegrated, the air poisoned.
the synthetic materials separate us (and itch).
IV.
in a state of loss
at odds with
language training ground:
Say/the/magic/word
Then/say/"Thank/you"
And/then/they'll/say
accrual of meanings teaching my daughter
in this way,
understanding gratitude
we are as broken as we are built
V.
window
table for two
Bay view
coat check
called far in advance