Crows Over California

Theo Meranze (art by Lucy Curtis)

Luke 12:49

“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?”

For home

In the obsolescence of time

warped wings caress western skies that

stir over burning fields of strawberries,

crucified atop conquered sod that

awaits sacrifice to a pale god who

ships cardboard boxes to stucco homes

With Love

(What my homie said)

I sent a call deep into concrete desert,

despairing

The voice on the other end spoke in an

apathetic drawl

I asked if it can still see hope through

smothered skies

If in the evenings it can still see the palm trees

Dance through a sea of violets

It told me people still get killed at night,

That it heard the gunshots in the courtyard

Then the cries of the mother turn to silent winds

I asked it if in times of tragedy it

Weeps in the arms of a scorching sun, if it

Kneels below overpasses as the

Echoes of its cries

Carry it to a righteous peace

It told me it isn’t very religious

Though like Jesus it

Still takes the time to watch the birds sing

love songs