Hey baby / you up? / I just wanted to know if you saw the headline / the sky / if you had a second to reply / if you could circle / back / I know I’m a nuisance when it comes to fireworks / all those midnight panic attacks / but did you see the sky / can you turn on the news for me / no it’s okay / when you’re done with the meeting / when you’re done with the happy hour / yes beirut can wait / no worries / I’ll circle back / yes I did the breathing exercises / yes I’ll wait / no you’re right I’m unreasonable / I’m breastbone and emotion / hey baby are you still a country? / am I still bait grazing at your shore / do your borders still run one way / all good / it’s chill / hey can you finish this for me / no justice no [ ] / no justice / no you’re right / a fist is a fist is a fist / baby I’m sorry / baby I’m superstitious / you said sick? / there’s a pill for that / you said savage? / there’s a CPT code for that / there’s an ancestor with a bad visa and a sob story / we’re back to the fireworks again / each spangle a talking-to / each explosion a promise / say invasive / say litter / say so long as we live / we live / hey baby you up? / you wildfire / you oil rig / that’s the silver screen talking / did you watch primetime / twenty-five pages of first names / someone’s baby under the rubble / and the newscaster didn’t flinch / the skull a cantaloupe or heirloom spoon or blister or no justice / no redline / no crops after the rains / no rains / just tacky lipstick and sparklers / kerosene / the stars salt-white / baby you look good in this light / you look good on this land / just like you planned / a pantomime of good guy / you say dead and make it so / you plant bluebells / you grin out the names / I said America and you blushed with sex / I said America and the birds went quiet / filled the night with their wings / hey baby I’m not sure I want your god / anymore / I’m not sure I follow / yes I got the meditation app / yes I filled the script / yes I’ll translate for you / mother means mother / water means truth / hey baby do you have a second / hey baby we need to talk / it’s not you / it’s the strategy / you turned on the overhead / and I scattered like a cockroach / you called the country a miracle / and I let you get away with it.
