the rain inside, by Brian A. Salmons

the rain inside

they left this
in the desert he     finds this
in the desert he     wanders, brings
this home brings refuse of Eros he
gives life again to them he 
brings the rain into the museum in a college-town he
busks for liberty he     searches finds liberty an artifact
in the desert he     lets the tiny bells ring
drop and ring

he suffers us     to hear the shots
draining us     he grants us     a calm observation
of desperation fruiting the metal plane 
secures us     views of the flag falling
dead still

suffers us     to hear the wood iron nylon water
pleases us

hands clasped behind our backs 
he     lets us     consider costs 
in the soft patter

the rain inside
that left them

Brian A. Salmons

Brian A. Salmons is a poet and translator from Orlando, Florida. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Eyedrum Periodically, NonBinary Review, Poets Reading the News, The Light Ekphrastic, Eratio, and others, including anthologies from YellowJacket Press and TL;DR Press.