this old house
creaks now
as I pace
the dusty
floors

I’ve grown old
worrying about
tomorrow
not for me
but for
posterity

hopefully
we’ve taught
our children
enough for them
to maintain
the mechanicals
and tend
to the yard

do we address
the foundation
as if we’re going
to live another
generation
or are they
damned

will our live-feeds
still play songs
of brotherhood
and joy...
or instead
ring of rage,
intolerance,
and malcontent?

Pella, Iowa '24