Yard Sale of Thoughts

Road Out of Tehran

Katie Frances Hartless

Cloudy carpet,
gray from use,
drops against a concrete sky;
submissive, its fibers overused.

The spotty surface
doesn’t catch the eye.
Neglect, sure, but its hardly abuse,
the dingy carpet in the sky.

Between the building roofs,
stretching the dampened aisle,
the full day’s procession stomps
towards an open, waiting tomb.

See, daylight’s dead.
What’s left is sound-proofed
prejudice, dust-control,
an armed truce.

Apathy for the innocent
and our soft, cushioned gloom.

©2025 | K.F. Hartless

Cover Art: Sanya Kantarovsky “Cold”

“Lion” Little Simz ft. Obongjayar

3 responses to “Road Out of Tehran”

  1. ben Alexander Avatar
    ben Alexander

    Katie, “the dingy carpet in the sky” really strikes me—such a subtle yet loaded image. The whole piece feels like a quiet scream, and I’m still sitting here with that final line.

    ~David

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Katie Frances Hartless Avatar
      Katie Frances Hartless

      Indeed. I’m also waiting as it seems like more of a silent scream. Thank you for this thoughtful comment, David.

      When we must live below bellowing smoke, I wonder, can we make the skies clear again for our children and future generations?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. ben Alexander Avatar
        ben Alexander

        😢

        Like

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