For Grenfell and Flint

CLASS WAR

They die by fire

histories are built on

wishful origins

dead arise to become

another’s story

there are as many questions

as there are redemptions

that room at the top

is she one of

a family of five burned

now to the ground

what is lost in a fire

is this:

memory

sweet empathy

bloodless revolution

left behind is the

crafted solution

to memory and godless

Innocence burns

faster than guilt

spontaneous combustion

controlled revolution

what is lost in a fire

depends on the flame

birthday candles alight

again and again

like the magic

of coming from a

long line of nobodies

they die in a fire

they are our story

They die by water

cities are built on

wishful origins

assembly lines hum

another’s story

there are as many questions

as there are redemptions

that home at the top

is it one of

a family of five poisoned

by water unsound

what is drowned in neglect

is this:

memory

sweet empathy

bloodless revolution

left behind is the

crafted solution

to memory and godless

Innocence drowns

faster than guilt

spontaneous disruption

controlled revolution

what is lost when they drown

depends on water

prayer candles alight

again and again

like the magic

of coming from a

long line of nobodies

they die by poisoning

they are our story

20 June 2017 nyc