A Disturbing Event

 A Disturbing Event

To the East, clouds of gulls screech above Our Lady of Victory,

to the West, crows complain as they gather against the city skyline.

Never have city folk witnessed such division between sea birds 

and land birds, nor felt such a strong wind sweep up from the harbor.

Fast moving clouds drive in from the south, forcing gulls 

into crow territory— cawing and screeching co-mingle. 

Now a great crack of lightning unzips the sky, and the cold, rain-slicked cobblestones glisten, above them Our Lady of Victory unflinching. 

She commemorates a conflict so terror-filled that mere 

battles between birds cannot unhinge her,

yet I admit to being afraid of the elected madman who has taken power

over our Republic.  Surely the Civil War his henchmen speak of 

has been announced here, as the heavens fill with angry gulls 

tearing into fierce, defending crows.

—Sef, 2/2/2025, revised 3/7/‘25