a tilting of air

we are all so
smart
as a whip
<crack>
cutting at and into
space and spirit
any and all
who are simply not
as smart
<crack>
taking
cheap shots from
soap boxes
built by
self for self
<crack>
oh, no, you don’t
put your feet
on my soap box
<crack>
my soap box is full
<crack>
we lash
to keep at bay
we flog
to keep atop
and shout our shouts
<crack>
we aren’t made
for soap boxes
we carry
weight of ages
two bites
and a sneaking thing
<crack>
bloated by
gorging on
me and I and mine
<crack>
the soap box
breaks
and what to show
but tumbling masses
flimsy flails
at nothing
and splintered wood