6 AUGUST BEIRUT BEARS YET ANOTHER BURDEN
FUSED INTO ORGANIC MASS LIKE CANDLE WAX
THE BEIRUT WAREHOUSE WHERE STUFF WAS STORED WAITING TO EXPLODE ONE DAY
WINDOWS IN A BLOCK OF FLATS NOT SPLINTERED WHOLE PANES AT A TIME
UNIFORMLY BLOWN OUT AS IF DESIGNED THAT WAY
THERE’S NOTHING TO SAY
THE WOMAN SAYS SWEEPING A GLASS CARPET
AFTER THE BLAST THAT BLEW THE LID ON LEBANON
AND ON AND ON
THE LITANY OF LOSSES INFLICTED ON THIS PITIFUL NATION
FOUR-FIFTHS OF THE VALUE OF THE LIRA AMPUTATED SINCE THE PANDEMIC KICKED IN FROM BIG TOE TO THIGH HIGH
THE PRICE OF BREAD BURNING UP NOW THE GRAIN SILOS HAVE BEEN SMOKED
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE MAN’S IMBECILITY TO MAN
ON THE OTHER HAND THE VOLUNTEERS FLOODING IN TO HELP
THE HOPE THAT YOUNG BEIRUTIS WILL ROOT OUT CORRUPTION
AND TOOT FOR AN OPEN CITY
WISHING FOR BEIRUT TO RECOVER AND AN END TO THE SECRETIVE INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOUS SECTARIANISM YOURS TRULY THE NEWS POET
