all on the altar / jason harris 

tomorrow will be different. no one will die.

the canaries will not beg for help.

perfume will not be poured without consent.

god, do not make me lay it all on the altar.

the canaries will not beg for help.

when the train leaving town comes, i’ll take it.

god, do not make me lay it all on the altar.

i know on the other side is rest.

god, when the train leaving town comes, i’ll take it.

my people hungry & with diamond teeth suffer

damn it, i know god on the other side is rest.

in my voice is a song. i do not know the words.

my people hungry & with diamond teeth suffer

having yet to give up still god they arrive.

in their voice is a song. they do not know the words.

for how much longer will the poor be among us?

tomorrow will be different

i know it god & the

canaries will be answered

& consent will be given.

Jason Harris is a poet and educator living in Cleveland, OH. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Et Cetera Literary Magazine, Sleeper Service, Winter Tangerine, Riggwelter, and Long Long Journal. He is the Managing Editor of BARNHOUSE Journal. Find him on social media @j_harriswrites