Hope Took A Vacation Poem by Thomas Case

I saw the dawn
rape lonely
orphans
with broken dreams,
while bats ate butterflies,
cats killed sparrows
and hope flew
south for
the winter.

On my way downtown
I've seen the
dead through
windows at the
dry cleaners eating
hamburgers with
starched faces.

The librarians, dry
and dusty, pray
for rain, as hippos weep,
hyenas sigh
and hope
flies south.

I've seen the strange
hand of
circumstance
wear the jester's
hat.
I've seen destiny
angry turn her
back, while potential
is wasted on
the railroad tracks.
Yeah, hope flew south
for the winter.