October’s Oxidation

Drains are clogged with circuit boards again.
Flurries of rust flakes carpet the streets.
All the air tastes of wet pennies. Every
polished gear and lever is corroding fast
under the pressures of time. Gutters, pipes
peel off houses and droop. Children swing
rivets on strings, laugh in modem screeches.
Pull on your coat. Leave the Geiger counter
on the kitchen side. Let’s walk together,
despite this antifreeze rain, feel the crunch
and pop of ball bearings beneath our feet.
Down in the landfill, bottles of bleach
are waiting for spring to erupt and bloom.