So Long as this Department Store Showroom is Moving Through Apocalypse Like a Spaceship Everything’s A-OK

Aisle 7 was a shocking pink commentary on late capitalism

delivered by a baboon in polka-dotted underpants.

It was fake news at its best,

clownish & sincere.

It even won an award from the Society for the Prevention of Deep Breathing.

This time, according to the newsreel,

they hadn’t bombed the munchkins into smithereens

but buried them in tons of plastic toy trash

from Disney & their competitors.

It was a great advertisement for the cartoon

that genocidal breakfasts had become.

No one will ever forget the image

of the Virgin Mary

clutching the limp body of her stuffed teddy

crucified for the sins of the good folk at Campbell’s Soup.

The sorrow went on forever & ever

but we tied on our aprons & made hot chocolate.

It was the American Way, or some way,

for those who’d lost their way.

This time we were resolved not to hear our parents calling not realizing

that our parents had resolved not to call.

This time there were too many leftover people named

Fred who’d never been elected president

of anything.

Life is like a camera

without film that you left in a closet

that has been carried off by camels.

Besides, you moved a long time ago.

If you don’t accept Hello Kitty as your personal savior

you don’t stand a chance of salvation.

And that’s not just my opinion.

It’s written in the directions of the new Gulf War

edition of Monopoly.

Check the fine print

if it hasn’t already leapt off the page

 & into your bed

colonizing your brand new mattress

like an old coonhound.