show homes

at his, a faceless boy's birthday party
the third person, omniscient narrators
talk to each other in bird calls

he unwraps the presents that have started to rot

the children let go of balloons that people
from other neighbourhoods mistake for stars

& as he sleeps, cities grow out in the desert
building tv's for people to fall asleep in front of
destroying songbird nesting ground
so the birds have to move and get retail jobs

he's leaving in his mind
to where there's no more darkness,
only secret darkness
follow swallows tied up in white string
to the country made entirely of lights that didn't settle

the balloons leave the atmosphere

& everyone sleeping dreams of being saved
but nothing is being saved

maybe buy a show home in the desert
plant bulbs in the backyard for summer