“…distinguishing our friends on TikTok

from the system failure of the Matrix,

fictional agents who trip on the trip-wire

of a progressive déjà vu,

sounding the alarm for Pokémon

like Pikachu,

whose evolution to Raichu

seals the demise

of politicians and preachers

who wear a postmodern disguise.”

Those who live for the glamor and spotlight

drink drops of disco

that rages into the night.

Forget your westward expansion;

leave a fossil footprint of what’s right.

Androgynous highs and lows—

testosterone freezes

and estrogen flows

like snow,

sun-bathin on top of Kilimanjaro,

meltin glaciers below.

Only a tomahawk

of compassion

can break through

this frozen oppression.

You exuded confidence

like one of Zeus’s thunderbolts

and beauty, oh greatness,

beauty that rivaled the cause

of the Trojan War—

Helen of Sparta’s passionate revolt.

how quickly we forget,

laying down palm branches

to casting stones a week later,

breaking stained glass windows

to our mansions,

crucifying our Creator.

This poem was inspired by Cornelius Plantinga’s book Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be and the lyrics to Cake’s song “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle.”   Bellyful.   Passive-aggressive bomb Or self-medicated napalm?   The neglect of this rhyme Revives the justification of your dime   Spent on supersized fries While kids in the Congo…

My superhero alarm clock

Double-dares me to suit-up

For PE’s mile hike

Up life’s strange coming-of-age,

A call to braces, acne, and puberty.

I look outside my window

And wonder why others’

Faces aren’t melting,

Feeling the nuclear devastation

Of your leaving

“Redeem and restore
What the locusts have eaten—
O Lord—
The schemes Satan’s woven,
Our innocence … stolen.”