Bankruptcy

[Mark A Becker]

What is it saying?

"Your song ain't sung in our choir".

Bankruptcy  an accusation of moral bankruptcy

a long time considering can be
a longer time, much longer
than shoulder blades

thin hills, for when I see them,  these lines mean little to me
American streets spread wider
and wider, like yawns and aches—  widening division in America, otherwise why 'American streets'?

we have been lying here  who is the 'we'?
for years now, on occasion
we hold hands, sing psalms AHA! The 'we' have strongly held religious convictions- strong enough to lay down for.

however, when winter comes,  a place-holder line that balances the poem (tercets). 'winter' also works as a metaphor for change.
we adjust our sleep patterns,
for winter winds are fiercest  these lines also mean little to me

The narrator, real or fictional, seems to claim the moral high ground. Since the poem indicates 'American streets' it could speak to any number of divisions based upon religious conviction: prayer in schools, America as a (supposed) Christian nation, abortion, etc, etc.  I could pick any one of those hot button issues, but I'll go with 'door #3'- abortion, as it's the one that people lay down for, blocking access to clinics. 

So, I got all of that while cutting half of the lines.  Those other lines may have more importance to another reader, and must be important to the writer, or why include them?.  I don't ignore those lines, but I do tend to sort out the ones that stick. 

Another minor note-  I am OK with stanza/line breaks as commas, or I'd say that punctuation could be more consistent.

Since this is a forum/workshop for critique, I thought it appropriate that I should offer a more complete take than my previous 'crit-by-re-arrangement'. 
Mark