Kingdoms Rise and Fall - Dec. 2, 2024

poetry like religion had its heyday

of popularity and respect

hearing the words of the poet

and priest were highly valued

but every kingdom rises and falls

at least a Gideon bible is left

in the drawers of most motels

while poetry books will someday

be found in glass cases

untouchable for the frail yellow

pages and cracked bindings

and people will ask what they are

and the docent will say

those were diaries of observation

kept by people who lived

much slower lives

than we do now