4/2026 (c)
In the 16th century
the Scientific Revolution was new—
the sun quit revolving the earth,
yet, witch trials flourished.
A quick escalation—
gunpowder—
which my great-great grandfather used
even in the 18th century
to blast a throughway in the Rockies
and the shiny bayonet
in the Puget Sound war,
stealing Nisqually farmland,
destroying cosmologies.
The M16 cousin Ronnie lugged
across the Mekong delta
guided missiles, drones,
high-volume production
my nephew used
in Afghanistan.
Science so effective—
everywhere I go
my language is spoken,
my money accepted.
As if I am civilized,
as if the story I’ve been told
is believable.
As if I couldn’t reject it—
even if I wanted.
