Another Clock

            *

we fear

the split seconds

between beats of

our ruptured hearts

now that truth is gone

            *

what hour is this

there is no sun no moon

clouds separate

what remains of us

from stars

            *

what day now what

nation what tribe

everything that matters

has passed without knowing

into yesterday

            *

what month

named for a god

what season tell us

is it time to

sow or tend or reap

            *

what year with all

these anniversaries

we cannot remember

their faces hear words

do they still speak to us

            *

what century

these choirs

with their hymns

those cries for freedom

outside

crammed into

the countdown

            *

what millennium

go back far enough

someone is crawling

out from a black hole

offering salvation