Today the banner tells of HIV
mutating speedier than research learns,
and yells of the arrest and mystery
of some young homicidal Slav. The burns
up north are caused by angry eremites,
suburban-branded outcasts, pariahs
of proms and teams who learned to love the nights,
and grew the Counties emerald as Oz.

Events in current ink inform my brain
today, for I have taken time to read
the Chronicle. Recording headlines press
and pin on me, define and entertain,
like newspapers wind-loosed upon the street:
a drift of litter skittering its mess.