get to the basement! get to the store!

protein bombs are falling over the young city.
commerce has all but ground to a halt,

while the diplomatic corps has secluded itself

somewhere in the hills, gorging on stockpiles
of jelly donuts, pastries, apple fritters, and
chocolate pudding pies.

you're on your own, my fellow citizens —
those in charge have abdicated their right to rule,

and we're left to forage for fruits & vegetables.

storehouses of canned meat and fish
are discovered daily by teams
of gatherers and scouts.

we stay away from the surface, in our shelters —

there's nothing left for us to do but to find a clean plate

utensils in all this inedible, inutile rubble,
and wait for them to return.

6/3/06