pale apple blossoms
blooming mid-February
frozen and dead by early March
coyotes on the streets of housing tracts
searching for food
among puppies and kittens
the desperate amassed at borders
neighbors in tents around the corner
easterners migrating west from soaring shores
the tang of smoke over the globe among
young cheeks with bloody scabs
eyes hollowed of fear and hunger
reflected back from indifferent screens
in the safety of sitting rooms
we stare straight ahead
an entire culture being annihilated
by those we elected
dare we look over our shoulders