the universe is
collapsing
as far as we’re
concerned
but we’re not
concerned,
not the least little bit
we’re too busy
chasing stars
all thumbs, hearts,
and digital dollars
one of the first things
to go
when an empire
collapses
is education
and art
wait,
but that’s
two things
I know,
now do you see
what I mean?
propaganda becomes
less obvious and harder
to detect
after that, the laws change,
censorship and
surveillance tighten
people become
more divided
than ever before
extreme right and left,
each with a few correct answers
and a whole bunch of lies
and each side is
convinced
that the other is
100% wrong
“our team couldn’t possibly
“be incorrect about anything”
the enemy
is no longer
at the gates,
but now lives
next door
no one can sleep
for fear of the news
but the grocery store
is still reasonably
well-stocked
for now
lately, at night,
I look up at the stars
if I wasn’t certain it wasonlymy imagination, Iwould swearthat thedamnthings were squeezingclosertogether
©2026 Kevin Trent Boswell
Kevin Trent Boswell 