by Cody Draco
holy is the head whose coliseum skull
hosts the all-powerful-yet-deeply-vulnerable brain whose megalomaniac ruler Ego
leads it on a fool’s gold leash, bedazzled with African blood diamonds
into a gruesome yet glorifying fight to the death against itself as deeply entertaining as the most disturbing forms of reality television
which cater to the dark marrow few suck for extra flavor from the orbital bones
instead most opt to drink the Kool-Aid prepared by Jim Jones so they can reach Nirvana to the sound of Smells Like Teen Spirit slutty are the ears who are easily seduced
by the handsome devil selling them what they wish to hear over a Grunge riff turning their inner drums into snares pounding over and over until a raw throbbing permanently resides there
rebellion at its finest hour lacks the sophistication of a Kentucky bourbon
instead burning through an entire generation
like a Prohibition-era 190 proof moonshine
leaving an inescapable aftertaste of addiction in the family members that follow
meandering is the mouth with which we discuss the weather 35
with someone who rain or shine we would like to know better the tongue is taut tingling and the teeth are severely stained from drinking espresso-laced coffees that rival the strength of pink cocaine
whether we are pet store hamsters spinning on a wheel or genetically altered lab rats running in a maze
genuine connection is the gourmet cheese we all crave as we’re bumping blind into walls with only ourselves to blame nervous is the neck of our woods
as corrupt city planning threatens to pave over our grassroots that is if and only if, wildfires caused by climate change don’t bite off Bob Dylan and start Blowin’ in the Wind maybe we can pass down more than trauma to our next of kin hopeful remains the heart whose valves are clogged with sin.
Pegasus 