Will we get through the narrows
past this rushing of wild and wanton white
waters of cruelty, brutality and

a family huddles
crunched against the attacking
agents wielding weapons
smashing glass

for the security of the homeland

miles from yesterday
we told ourselves
this
could
never
happen
here

nearly naked men piled in cages
arrested detained deported
a photo op moment in time

we run with the river
rapids rising like the bile of
who we are

he’s not the one
take him anyhow

bare-knuckled we grab grasp
grapple with revulsion
freshet flooding horror

the dread the anguish of this

this is happening here
will we survive
the narrows?

April 20, 2025