They Want Us To Believe In The Dark Ages

they want us to believe in the Dark
Ages.
we resist, throwing up colourful
flares
as if they were party streamers

and pretend it's a holiday

not an emergency that never quite
goes away.
and they send telegrams, furiously,
day and night:
lo, the Ship is sinking out of sight
but you

say to yourself,
what ship am I on?
we're landlocked here.

but they persist in fears
and long for you to do the same.
and dream that meteors will

shatter your quiet.

then I'll be starlight,
you say to yourself.
then I'll be starlight.

mary angela douglas 11 april 2016