Department of Loneliness

maybe someday 

someone in our government

will create a sixteenth Cabinet member

the Department of Loneliness

appoint a kind-hearted Secretary

probably with an initial budget

for introductory literature and

targeted commercials for the lonely

if that takes off  maybe it will

create a network of hearts

linked by touch and empathy

leaving fewer abandoned

and like apples in a barrel of water

how difficult would it be 

for the mouth of loneliness

to bob for a shiny red one

while all the others keep

bumping into each other

its teeth unable to lock onto

that poisonous bite