M. NourbeSe Philip: in this together (A work-in-progress)

in this together
(A work-in-progress)

in this together

                                 are we

where together was

never

            in this together

of doll house condos

at millionaire prices

                              rocketing rents

that never return to

in this together

where there are banks for food

and banks of money for those

who have too much

and care too little

in this together where rents

corral the young, the poor, the worker

into small

       smaller

the smallest of rooms at prices

that have taken flight—

nor was in this together present in gently

gentrifying neighbourhoods

corporate welfare

and bank bailouts

in this together

of boil-water advisories

grassy narrows* and forked-tongue treaties

in this together of fracking the earth

in this together of drill baby drill

in this together of the burning amazon

in this together of the melting arctic

in this together of the death of coral reefs

how are we in this together

in this together

of the hold was

               where

self found we

in this together of song

that sang of being

in this together

while the blue orb spins

                              silent

gently gliding on its

ellipsis as in this

together we together were

never

not

                               in this together

*Between 1962-1970 the people of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Ojibwe) or Grassy Narrows First Nation were poisoned through their water by a pulp and paper mill located in their community.  They have not yet received adequate compensation.