the world was broke

the world was broke

each morning you dressed in black
it always tried coming back

but yesterday
the skies stayed grey
the tower where you lived
had a window repaired
crowds of frightened people
stood and stared
the first lady in real furs
the latest edition of his and hers
i watched you take the throne
like a little dog takes the owner's bone
a screaming eyesore
from nearest sea to distant shore
one proud boast
from Atlantic to Pacific coast
one mouthful a small country
one large swallow the whole world
stars and stripes unfurled
the gentle winds gather into a storm
everyone is getting warm
but Muslim cool is getting hot
pluralism left to rot
from the campus of Berkeley
protest fires continue to burn
one liners repeated over and over
help the simple-minded learn
the tall ships reaching the New York harbor slip
passengers taking a hit
night time might be the right time
if that's not too sublime
an attempt to run
but the roads are steep
down the alleyways
chased by the heat
across the grassland of Central Park
and past the Spring Roll man
into the underground railroad
beyond the corner trash can:
the world was broke
each morning you dressed in black
it always tried coming back
but yesterday
the skies stayed grey.