Poem-a-Day

there is a new big problem & the problem is the students  
have started setting up shop on the quad with their tarps  
& tents their hand-lettered signs they are cooking vast  
pots of soup they are hi-lighting Fanon & scrolling Tik-Tok  
at full volume they are starting a kind of school I am leaning  
in the kitchen of the administrator’s house pinot bright  
in my glass it would shock you she is saying how good the new  
algorithm is matches a faceprint in seconds even through  
a mask she sets a timer wipes her hands of course the fees  
are extortionate she laughs but the system will pay for itself  
if something were to god forbid actually happen of the threats  
on letterhead the teargas & beatings on stairs she says I  
was young once too you know I get it you can have your views  
but at a certain point       in the other world a Shadow 
scans the stalls of a market fresh fruit body heat a keystroke  
& a distant turret turns        she stirs the pan tops off 
my glass shallots cook in butter evening leans into the arms  
of the trees outside well okay right yes she says did you see  
the new one where that French actor plays a young Bob  
Dylan & sings all the songs himself & sounds actually  
pretty good weren’t you impressed don’t you think that  
was a risky move I swallow & say I agree I agree I am saying  
as a streetlamp snaps on revealing a grid of freshly  
mown turf clippings bagged & lined up at the curb a trail  
in the lawn where someone dragged them we’re getting close  
she says putting in the garlic & the fish