Tea Leaves

     Like tea leaves stuck in our teeth  

  We spit out the poll results  

  Unblinkingly staring   

  At the tallied percentages for each contestant.

  

  We watch the victor's speech  

  Bags of nothingness

 Acknowledging the aloe vera of everything that leaves his mouth 

And pledge to stay indoors in mourning.

  We wade to work in defeat 

Grasping onto the forgotten smell 

Of hope on house arrest

 Watching on helplessly  

As it braves the rough waters of a post election    

    Red topped force men match on foot

 As blue colored choppers hover over the capital. 

We watch the tear gas vehicles parked at the city square

 And vigorously spit out the tea leaves.