The Clan Meeting Poem by RIC BASTASA

we were inside a circle
talking about the past
the years have made us
forget what our old folks taught us

there is always a time for
nothing but free talk until
some of you begins to cajole
and flatter and i begin to see

dogs and foxes around the table
some shall act as temporary prey
lots of words to seduce and entice
but here we are we are no longer

innocent children and we are no longer
giving and as compassionate as those
war times that give birth to mercy
we are numb as stone with unpredictable

thoughts inside our bodies crawling like
snakes so wary about the next prey
no one loses neither anybody wins in this
game of lies and then i look at my watch

it is 4: 30 in the afternoon and i really have
to go
i have a sunset to watch
another orange picture to take.