the birds are
silent
they sit on a wire
the sun goes to sleep
a cigarette glows
a baby cries and its mother knows
the world is over
the world is gone
gone as old men in their undershirts
drive-ins and girls in angora sweaters
Christmas trees at the end of December
board games sit in detention centers
a baby dies
and a cigarette glows
the world is gone
the world is over
outside
the birds
are silent as wire.