I THINK AND SPEAK IN CLICHES OF THE FUTURE

Just to keep my mind fertile,
I stopped all that I was doing, which was
of limited use, and began to think of art,
and beauty-- for the sake of levity.

(Then the flash.
Then the black veil of the last ten minutes of
the life of this republic was lifted,
and the largest, sharpest, and most vile
tongue in the world was jammed down its throat.

It slipped past many slippery
and formerly erect objects.

I have been accused, and pushed,
and seen what it is like to
stand alone on a street dotted with strangers.

© 1992 Daniel X. O'Neil

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