Particular Words in a Specific Order

not one nuke was spent when all the humans died
anemic sky 
and river 
dry merciful 
ending by 
a fluke

just all of us contentedly watching the rot settle into our world
slice atomic 
stings the 
skin then 
quickly wisps 
to dust

finding ourselves transfixed by the images we conjure
alone asleep 
abed this 
night alight 
with dream 
in kind

or those which are conjured for us on behalf of everyone else
burden rocks 
endlessly across 
the bridge 
of faithfully
flattened noses

no, the end was so slow you could not feel your fingernails loosen
needle driving 
deep entice 
the nerve 
to panic 
send absolution

and where did all those warriors run off to
pride with
tails tucked 
leased-out valor 
soldier ants 
didn't dare  

we exhume, dream, and check for jewels, cash, anything hidden on its person
prays appraisal 
plays as 
praise amongst 
the doomed 
or shamed

everything, shove it in the pockets or the cars and you knew you'd have to run
reduced to
determining use: 
elect purpose 
design meaning 
dictate love

as the fences came down with the walls all at once
plastic playpen 
keep the 
kid in 
finger pinches
finger pinches

thus we had abandoned the collective again
and again 
and again 
and again 
damned sad
pattern recognition

that each one of us might forge a new and grand life
pry apart 
piece together 
trio of 
lessons to 
repeat teach

among the neocataclysm we're all waiting on
many bright 
days along 
the descending 
edge of
the cliff

stop sitting there and move
stop sitting there and move
stop                 there and
stop                              and move
stop sitting              and
stop                              and
                                                 move

2025