When things were normal the sirens still whirred through the empty streets of forgotten neighborhoods 

Left to rot in the dust

Hospitals and heroin addicts seeing more and more of each other 

Each day 

 

When things were normal the neighborhood kids were still tearing up the heavily potholed 

streets 

With their 

Tough tongues 

And insincere comments 

Blunts and bikes 

And backwards thinking 

 

When things were normal the man in charge still sloppily signed orders 

Stapled his name on the purpose of

Executive energies

Regulating industries 

Finance and fault 

All tied up nicely 

In a gruesome bow 

 

When things were normal things were still

Hurting 

The flowers were wilting 

The sighs were coming up slowed 

Drowned out by the sound of 

Tears 

Countless tears

That live on the cheeks of the innocent 

 

When’s things were normal how much beauty did our world possess? 

How much 

Weight 

Did we all carry

Because it clearly wasn’t 

Enough