In These Challenging Times

In these challenging times
you want to get right with us.

In this moment of crisis
you need to get on board.

In these difficult days
we have what you need.

In this time of crisis we are all seeking
new translations of “open sesame”

for your wallet. For your time.
For your attention, your opinion,

your locks and combinations.
In this time of panic

we need you to stay calm.
In this critical period

we beg you to not look up
and see us and become critical.

In this unprecedented moment
we don’t want you to think of 

precedents or of how
there have in fact been many

and in this moment of teeter-totter
the last thing any of us want

is for you to ask anyone anywhere
who lives on the front line every day

what it means to cower indoors 
from anything and everything. 

In this moment of how it feels
to worry about death everywhere

we don’t want you to worry so much
you decide to empathize with any place

that just lives this way and has for generations. 
In this commerce-fucking moment

please forget the words Gaza, 
Standing Rock, Afghanistan,

Ferguson, Baltimore, Darfur,
Biafra  — and never mind the rest.

In this moment of confusion
we applaud the challenge of feeling,

for once, like we’re in this together
though we really aren’t. Not if we can help it.

In these moments of isolation
the last thing we really need is you

joining hands and saying enough,
enough. Now that we know,

we can never turn back.
In these challenging times

we’d rather you die 
than say that.