Where crybabies cry in the United States
“Theory of the Crows,” The National
Bright white on both sides like a plate
Nobody listens, nobody should
there’s no room
for crying
when the ghost returns
in full relief
full throated and full bodied
haunting and pleasant
like timeless astronauts
free floating
weightless and ahistorical
soundless and untethered
in space there’s no room
for apologies
when the ghost returns
like a shooting star
but a space suit’ll do for now
an impromptu crying room
where no one can hear the crumbling
these missing monuments
because no one said the amputations
were temporary or free
—P.L. Thomas
dr. p.l. (paul) thomas 