Charlottesville, 2017

The chanting, flame-lit faces
reflect not a pure white light
but a dusk-yellow glow
set against
the dark, open green.

The realignment
has come around
at last—

some children
can sleep safe
while others huddle
against the break
of day,

against the shambling
dragooned walk,
against what rises
from past, fled fields
to go open, proud
down our main street.