By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
UP IN FLAMES
Dancers stepped on their own feet
bankers robbed
consumers shopped
sellers sold out
rappers wrapped themselves in gold chains
politicians shit bricks
The drunk got high
poets wrote in perfume
painters perfected the flower
believers believed
the faithful prayed
music decomposed
Leakers leaked
gamers became game
it was every man for his own selfie
Firemen lit fires
surgeons killed
Before the dying hit ground
ambulances hauled their bodies away
The alarm sounded
buildings burned
nobody noticed
until their fingers went up in flames
Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).
Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)
- Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
- Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
- Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018
