The Pretty Papers Section

dithers and bumstead trying to vote
who gets to hold the gun
and who gets to sleep
on the other’s watch—

where’s Blondie     she’s outside
talking with the neighbors through
the fence     as always
asking     where’s the children—

someone says they seen them
take flight     turned
to black birds wearing tee shirts printed
Black

Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter     and diners
run from the restaurant failing
to  pay—

a shining head drops
from the sky.

Notes:

“Pretty papers” is Swedish slang for the comics pages.

Source: Poetry (October 2020)