don’t panic
DON’T PANIC!
DON’T PANIC!!!

those words,
though said in
mantra verse,
lose their
reassuring value
when not
accompanied by:
glittering letters
on a shiny
red background

maple leaves
strewn across brick porches
wooden rocking chairs a’creekin
brats on the grill
beer in my hand
a tornado warning

the cold preceeding torrential
rainfall and seagulls flying by the
wind of the great lakes

my german-wisconsin heritage
maple leaves and all

past evening
simple words
pretty verse

an orange slide
with graffiti: NIGGA, BITCH–
following you down.