a spider
in a corner
cocooning
a beetle holding 
remains of joy
in its jaws.

mice nibbling
final hopes
spilled across
a dusty 
kitchen floor.

masses of wind
fling themselves against
windows that are
slowly but surely
giving in
to the battering.

on and on,
house by house,
block by block, 
city after town
after farm after town 
after city. 

almost all of The People
have disappeared.
anyone left
expecting to hear
other voices
hears nothing
but the sounds of

earth scavenging
what’s left and 
taking down the ruins.