What we wrestle, in time, becomes truth and poetry.
CZVasserOpposite is your venom
Much straighter is his tongue
His bite was so much sweeter
still now coiled about me
I hold you close
The sheen upon his breastplate
the swagger of his girdle
Sun god lost returning
A man to walk upon the sands
His soles unburned as his face
How do we eat this ragged portion
Served by legions of waiters
Our gods will steal their afterlife
But Anthony frets his sword
Even as he for me comes.
Dereliction of duty on my lover’s lips Cheap wine, marijuana and old sex Saying softly commitment Loudly NATIONTIME Smells like pampers and bad plumbing.
Vietnam was brown with a Buddha face Laugh quick ‘cause you’re dead already black.
Peace symbols and afro picks among glassine glaze and apple wine.
War was well war until a bullet in the back then it became one less lung Sweet Jesus precious air.
How’d they know I lived there F**king letter What the f**k is a draft board Motherf**kers Lottery my ass They sure did All the way to Vietnam That doesn’t sound bitter Does it.
What agents are you smoking Some known others unknown Reagents on both sides Lies and camouflage should sleep together since they piss with the same penis.
Johnny got his gun What did I get Except a dose and a case Needles all around Drink up.
Oh say can you see Sweet Land of Liberty for thee I sing.
What you know ’bout 10.
Tenement basements
daybreak brittle cold
coat covers
sleeping with a bunk bed wetter
stove-heated water
washing in front of the oven
one eye on the rat hole
behind the claw foot tub
sunday bath nightmares.
What you know ’bout that.
What you know ’bout 11.
The welcome smell of shooting gallery soot
deep nods of gyroscopic junkies
spiderman, the hulk, dr. strange
mad cool
you know about radioactive spiders
gamma rays and roots
you got people that work roots
you got people that know zombies
What you know ’bout that.
I’m not trying to make a point
I’m just asking.
What you know ’bout 12.
Thick crusty three day old hunger
grandma’s knitted hand
surplus food thursday
gold cans of usda approved mystery meat
powdered eggs and peanut butter
glad to have bologna & cheese.
What you know ’bout that.
What you know ’bout 13.
Hanging with the take-a-tokes
long inhales burnt fingernails
a run for ribs or fried rice
got you chicken wings
like bird, like billie, like miles you are mad cool
you knew they exhaled kinte cloth
lived burlap lives and knew hunger too
But what you know about that
don’t relate to my situation
I’m not talking about my childhood
I’m just asking what you know about that.
Fried Chicken & Philosophy 