The Sad Pandas

Old men with pens

in paneled rooms

tight smiles

the passage of checks

across a desk polished

by the passage of checks

the final documents

out the window

out the window

rooftops

wires

black scribble of tree tops

walls with other windows

shadows flying upwards

oh the sad pandas

how do we bear their stupendous sadness

if i chewed 

a stick of thousand-year gum

i could not chew

more cherry flavor

out of it than i have already

There are deer prints 

in the carpet

beneath our feet

what if all of us noticed them & said nothing

said nothing like i said nothing

what if we were all terrified

what if we were all keeping the same secret

what if all of us could never forgive ourselves

what if we were all ashamed of we knew not what

what if we all wanted to say it

say it out loud just once

say it out loud just once & get it off our chest

what would we want to say

Go on, say it

go on, it's time

go on, I won't tell a soul, I promise

go on, for god's sake, 
the pandas are listening