oracle bones

bones crack and the turtle sings
sun tomorrow, snow to melt slowly
the king will be victorious, no disaster
springtime and harvest, sowing and reaping

on Saturday morning I go shopping
bare trees blossom dirty plastic bags
sixteen pigeons on the roof's edge
the trolleys and El are running again

and the snow is melting slowly
our kitchen sink is stopped up
no hot water, the toilet is leaking
how long, oh Lord, how long

poring over the crime report last night
on google maps, looking at sex offenders
the neighborhood's plastered with rapists
the houses are abandoned

in America the rich are becoming richer
the poor inevitably poorer, same story
the kings are victorious, no disaster
and the peasants are starving as always

snow melts slowly, no flooding expected
dirty mounds stick up like Devil's Mountain
robins pick at the plastic foliage
this year's nests will be poisoned

my bones are old and my bags heavy
for the first time I hire a driver
the hack's friendly, an entertainer
he's from down south, can't believe this weather

I lug my groceries up the stairs
the steps are always getting steeper
but the view from the third floor is worth it
in my windows the orchids are blooming