Syria
dangling like a wire coat hanger
silence fidgets in a borrowed room
the composition of headlights refract
across checkered pastel walls
rows of empty bottles and duct tape
cast shadows resembling cracked angels
painted over a Modigliani masterpiece
time gnaws within
a few hours before
these tourists arrived to escape
the compulsion of semi-precious convictions
now bound and speechless
with all imagination lost
they crouch like painted paper dolls
blood lacking painted smiles
time gnaws within
fleeting moments build
as masked hoods flip through the channels
to stare in oblivion at their lack of news
sunk in contemplation
out of borrowing more time
with sweaty brows stumbling along unlit corridors
on a phone
fingernails rap in tweeting annoyance
a slow and deliberate anger exposed
ready to explode in a strange dusty world
unable to understand negative vibrations
create turbulence within itching bones
time gnaws within
gunshots to the head
moribund reminders to confuse
crossword puzzles and scratch offs
debates wither into self-absorbed likes
as dignity dangles like a wire coat hanger
lodged between innocent eyes
missing the return ticket
on an empty coat rack
* * *
Grocery List
Can a poem reach out and help save a life?
Can broke verse make for a healthier place?
For example what if i list food companies using Monsanto toxic chemicals
does writing such a tome represent quasi radical?
Either way I am going to make a list before cows become castles
before another pig eats its own brains
before another child is poisoned
— Note to the reader
this list is rather mundane
unfit for any refrigerator
be aware if the rhythms seem apathetically corny
it is a cheap trick i learned in school—
So here we have Aunt Jemima and Quaker
Betty Crocker and Bisquick mixed in with General Mills and Duncan Hines,
Jiffy and Ms. Butterworths mold with Pepperidge Farms and Campbells,
Post Cereals blend in with Phillip Morris tobacco who now owns Kraft foods.
Hershey’s Nestle is now selling you water with Carnation and Holsum
Interstate Bakeries stir fries with Best Foods and Knorr.
Nabisco and Nature Valley are alongside Kelloggs and Pillsbury
Heinz and Hellmans chasing with Hunts.
KC Masterpiece joins Frito-Lay and Pepsi,
Delicious Brand Cookies swirls with Famous Amos Keebler/Flowers Industries
Banquet and Green Giant Somehow join Healthy Choice
ConAgra and Kid Cuisine are laced with Stouffers Lean Cuisine
Marie Callenders runs with Smart Ones and Power Bar Brands
Chef Boyardee and Hormel Loma Linda and Morning Star blend with Lipton Unilever
Uncle Ben’s Rice-a-roni Pasta-roni Tombstone Pizza and Totinos
Contain the same amount of poison as Pringles and Pop Secret.
Orville Redenbacher Proctar and Gamble and V-8
Work well together with Coca Cola and Cool-aid
Minute Maid Cadbury/Schweppes throw up the rear
All mixed together with Prego Pasta and Ragu sauce
Leaving me with little else to say
except perhaps we are what we eat
and god knows we eat a lot.
