i've seen worse

it hasn't rained
in ages.
the earth is dry.
livestock lie where
they've died
with bloated bellies,
the bones bleached white.
the crops have fallen
flat and brown
to furrows in the earth.
not a cloud
floats
in the sky.
every flower is bent,
wilted
with thirst.
how long can we
survive this drought.
sit on
our porches
fanning ourselves
and talking
about when will it
rain again. only the aged
seem unworried.
they peer out
the screen door and say
don't worry
about it. I've seen worse.