by Vincent Bell
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| Lost Man painting by Irena Jablonski at Saatchi Art |
He traveled for a long time
to be near the Atlantic Ocean.
He sleeps on a bench exhausted.
The west coast is in flames.
He saw planes dropping red
retardant and heard the screams
of people, a concerto with flaming trees.
People are afraid to leave their homes.
He is alone in the park.
The smoke has reached Europe
and the election has passed without a
resolution. The authorities suppress
civil unrest. People have given up.
Prayers failed. Self-appointed saviors
have come and gone.
People ask each other
if they know what’s going to happen.
The man has no place to go.
Vincent Bell is from NYC and attended NYU and Fordham. He lives with his wife in Ardsley, NY.