We Winter in America

by Amber Sparks

Grover Cleveland was
Killed by wolves
And a bloody great hole
Ate the nation’s heart so thank
God Wheel of Fortune
Was on during this dark time.

The bottomless black fearvoid in
All our hearts was
Killed by wolves
A hole filled with empty space
A Protective Hole
Where nothing moved
But
The mayor’s baby
And a bagful of staplers.

The nation was
Killed by wolves
And buried in
Boots for digging because
Even in death, we keep on making
Deeper holes for our
Selves.

—
AMBER SPARKS is the author of May We Shed These Human Bodies, and co-author (with Robert Kloss and illustrator Matt Kish) of The Desert Places. Find her on Twitter @ambernoelle most days.