
II
The Corporation, you’ll be relieved to hear
is open
ready to take care of your needs
Your Call is Important
While waiting
Don’t Go SOUTH
DON’T move WEST Stay.
We will REbUILD
not as catchy as
Eat Rat
No Fat
Perhaps that was the trouble
not all dead at all
they followed the scattered arrays
grudging giving up just enough
to power a small lap top
a phone, one oven
@The Café Perdu
beer and bread
Sam smacked down cigarettes
the girl – was not for trade.
Jerry was a poet and a thief
he wanted the girl
but accepted the pack
she pointed out the label on the pack
smoking causes death
Oh sweetheart.
Jerry blew smoke from his nose
staying alive causes death
I saw them, Jerry exchanged
headed south to Orlando
Pushing and Pulling suitcases
Costco flat carts
packed trucks the whole family
struggling stuff along
whole morning exchanged for one mile
Like the markets
the Goblins controlled the trains
they worked the coal mines so long – the fuel belonged to the Goblins
Sam smirked. We didn’t consider that.
YOU can lose unwanted POUNDS
in a few weeks.
they were right
losing weight was easy
she could count all her ribs
I would love an airplane Sam said
to fly, that would be like being a god
there are no gods she pointed out
Sam kicked the rocks on the asphalt road
still, we need them, the gods, she confirmed
Then make some up,
Sam tired of talking
Some travelers were not thieves
willing to exchange
a can for safe passage
a cigarette for a story
the girl always took the stories
@ the Saloon at the End of the Line
a woman shared her huge Goblin apple
her arms were deep red and scarred
her face spared.
my Frank, he exploded right in front of me –
a Roman Candle, remember those?
I hardly know what to do with myself
From the dark safe bunkers in the East
the corporation issued a survey:
1) how do you like us so far?
2) how’s the fall out?
3) from one to ten do you feel more/less secure
Ten being very secure
A hacker from Montana usurped the results:
(1) Not Secure At All.
The site disappeared
Too many forgot to vote
This is one of eight chapters of Drinks @ the Last Cafe.
You can get a complimentary copy of the entire poem by leaving a helpful review for my new book, Deep Trouble
or for After I’m Buried Alive.
Notify me when you’ve posted the review – cbramkamp (at) gmail (dot) com and I will send you the ebook version along with my sincere thanks.
Thank you!