Cement devoured the flowers
And crushed the sparrow’s nest
Consuming the willow seed and drowning the squirrel
Rainbows withered into skyscrapers
Into pop-up houses and factories
Into government buildings, schools,

and churches brandishing grafitti
Years ago, I was a worm
Fleshy pink and wet with dirt
I took comfort in the soil with the deaf, with the blind
Now I am a doorknob
The doorknob bolted on the front of city hall
Turn me left
Turn me right
Either way, the land remains the same
Caked in brick and plywood
Cement devoured the flowers
And crushed the sparrow’s nest
Consuming the willow seed and drowning the squirrel
Rainbows withered into skyscrapers
Into condominiums and empty libraries
Into silent apartments, post offices, and buzzing police stations
Years ago, I was a worm, child
Years ago, I was a worm