Flight Risk

The empire is striking back against Its soft-shelled students, marking passing Time with new ways to send money.  The ticker-tape Crawls at denial’s speed, its several Layers and colors turning our heads In all directions.  What’s newer about This time around is endurance, the way it Keeps moving despite all efforts to direct It this way or that, as if the serenade Were going on in a distant room. Our generosity is relentless.  Around The capital cities traffic is backed up At every access ramp, each driver Quietly gripping the steering wheel And waiting for the tow trucks to arrive. Through a patient accumulation of successes A new building is being demolished. “One cannot say that circumstance Is necessarily permanent in that country.” Credible sources are complimenting us On our limited range of options, shifting From place to place on the boardroom table. What’s different is the risk of turbulence In a previously controlled ascent; links To various scenarios are included In the malady’s front-page treatment. We could be jailed for selling this To the public at large, whose undivided Arousal is required by the off-white banners That snap like laundry in the wind, Wrapping themselves around the few Remaining pockets of resistance. What’s left is a feeling moving unnoticed Up the small hairs of the arm, marking Time as it rises like a gauge.