in lines for a green card                  
     like starving strays,  
scientists locked out of labs, stripped                  
    of instruments to grieve dirty air and water,  
in bus seats we’re gray-haired, tender-jointed,                   
    disappearing  from this world,  
in line to chant “no more kings” and know                  
    too many ignore danger,  
in line for confession, ask forgiveness
    for our country’s sins,  
kneel in shame before the children
    of Gaza, Iran and Ukraine,