Author: Carla Smith
a set of haikus from a hangry American
I sing the sandy
tune of democracy, I
choke it down with milk
sour and chunky
shove that hotdog down your throat
puke up the result
Star-spangled eyelids
—Stark white, bleaching the standard —
are trimmed, so neatly
two legs laid three eggs
cu-cu-ka-choo red, white and
blue bled from the coop
you hold the door for
the money man, rough-green-s/cents
short-stuff, molded hands
let's go redskins!! let’s
go braves!! knock nails in its head!
Tomahawks, enslaved
ol' uncle Sam shoves
his fist down our pants, jacking
us off just in time
cataclysmic sound
shoving banners in the ground
hit a lick then split
don't tread so close to
me, Police state, carried o’er
sea’s silt shook debris
when will the oil stop
spurting? Gorge yourself on it
black-tongued Lazrus
keep begging for it
and we’ll shove it in deeper
nice, easy, jesus wept
take it harder than
we gave in 'nam, Agent O’
mutant child and spam