Going Out With a Bang

He regretted it as soon as he’d said it.

Rapping it out.
Flailing his arms.
Carelessly pounding the worn keyboard.
Distortion souring the microphone.
Feeling the rhyme collapse.

He saw the contempt in her mouth.

We’re done. Told you before.
There’s nothing you can say.
Get some pride.
Him and her.
He saw now there was no comparison to 9/11.
No lasting monument.
No helicopters in the dark.

He was the one truly devastated.

And the emergency services weren’t coming to kiss
it better.