betrayal

has as many species
as there are flowers
closing their petals
darkness needs no invitation

sometimes it’s not noticed immediately
the long silence
when you expect a shout
words in place of deeds
deeds trailing off past yellow horizons
abandoned sagebrush
fencepost termites

dialectical historical sophistry
taking its usual place
at the head of the table

those plodding in the gutters
have tasted all the leftovers
you gave away last weekend
thank you brothers and sisters
go ahead undo un-live those early days
of the dissident
objectors of conscience
before the suburban wasteland
the rich forest quiet as a drifter

admit your eyes are covered by a not-so-great-gettin-up
gray morning

submission manufactured
complete with instructions

--- e b bortz