Internal Riot by Jonathan Butcher

All it took was a misplaced word

to ensure the sparks flew, 

and where they fell, the fires 

quickly created backdrafts. 

This entire city was under our palms,

our hands, however, struggled to hold a drunken 

balance. 

The concrete blocks slowly eroded,

almost in tandem with the surrounding

trees now surrendering to October.

The leaves of dry paint and rot created

a snow scene amongst the tagged 

and broken fences in our wake,

our lazy hands now grateful for the labour. 

Our feet hammered upon the pavement,

the shadows of closed shops store 

our yells that drench out the falling

glass, which splintered our fingers

for decades to come; the sirens

fail to deafen us, as it became apparent 

guilt is the last and the only emotion we lack.

Jonathan Butcher has had poems appear in various print and online publications including, The Morning Star, Mad Swirl, Drunk Monkeys, The Abyss, Cajun Mutt Press and others. His fourth chapbook, 'Turpentine' was published by Alien Buddha Press.

He is also the editor of online poetry journal Fixator Press.