Let’s go look at the arbutus,
flanked by steady cliffs and rhythmic waves—
We’ll leave behind the baseless
politicians and the whiplash headlines
the voices saying
they care
and the caring
who don’t have a voice

Maybe the arbutus will know
why
bodies need bills to breathe, or
why
rich men flood their gardens
while our mouths are dry
with thirst
Let’s ask the arbutus
why
the Earth’s going rate is empty promises,
a limited-time offer gone wrong

The children matter,
unless they’re not the same—
unless they’re overseas or underqualified
or in the dirt or not your own
I’ve lost my lousy rhyme scheme
somewhere in this messed-up dream
the children will grow and grey
in a world where we don’t exist ourselves—
just dust in the ground,
outlasted by 2-day delivery

Let’s go look at the arbutus,
enduring,
and say our hellos and goodbyes,
watch the waves keep rolling in
Please let’s look at the arbutus
maybe they’ll know
Why