Calling Up the Bones
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

When we hear the bell inside where
will we go? When our lights start setting
bushels on fire, then what?

There’s nothing stopping us from having
a lie down under a tree. One day our self-care
will start the apocalypse.

River rats have tumbled the careful zen-
arrangements of rocks we made on the creek side.
Listen–I need to hear this as much as the next.

Why are we cutting the umbilical cords
to the dead? Orgies of violence are on the way.
We’re all going to need to ask for help.

Throw off the bushels. Let our larger than life
lights shine.  Before it’s too late–call up the bones
of the dead, and enflesh them with our wanting to live.