The Empire Fell

When the cities stand empty
And the deer shop at Costco
And the coyotes have learned
How to open tin cans

The sky burns a clear blue
And there are no contrails
And the rain has washed
The clouds clean again

Small towns huddle in valleys
And cheese is fresh now
And the farms are no larger
Than a man can plow

Chickens in the streets wander
And children laugh together
And someone made a puppet
with Ipod headphone strings

The old people remember
And talk about the old days
And ask one another as they meet
who were you before