Poems of the Theater by Justin Karcher
The Changing of the Guard
By JUSTIN KARCHER
What a lovely idea
an older generation
passing the torch
to the young
But in this city
it’s more like a blowtorch
because there’s a lot
we need to melt
In this city
the cold will kill you
if you don’t act fast
if you don’t speak up
Shake off the past
burn it all down
so artists can thrive
but it’s not easy
Our hearts encased in ice
not normal ice either
but the kind created
from lots of bad luck
Disinterested audiences
blowing cold air
at desperate performers
trying to change the world
It’s nobody’s fault
lake-effect winds
we’re born with
deep in our lungs
We get it
from our parents
their parents
so on and so forth
I imagine cities across America
where women carry blowtorches
they fight against frostbite
they fight for the future