Decapitating Gods: A Poem, or Something
Superstitious white-collar Buddhists
hanging tissue-paper effigies-
hypoallergenic, of course, like so many
disposable surgical masks-
silent sacrifices to hand-me-down gods,
from days when rain still made
all the difference; decorative apathies
praying to keep those clouds coming,
as long as there'll be leftover change for
pachinko and ume-shuu, and pastel-pink
cartons of Palmall menthol extra-lites.
hanging tissue-paper effigies-
hypoallergenic, of course, like so many
disposable surgical masks-
silent sacrifices to hand-me-down gods,
from days when rain still made
all the difference; decorative apathies
praying to keep those clouds coming,
as long as there'll be leftover change for
pachinko and ume-shuu, and pastel-pink
cartons of Palmall menthol extra-lites.
Teru teru days hang from crumpled necks
until filled in with smiles or
blank, painless eyes; maybe the
occasional mischievous grin is stenciled
on the ghastly bulbous faces of those
little cotton prayericatures, who seem to
realize better than any that threatening
the sky may not stop the rain, but decapitation's
more than a fair trade for gods you get to keep
as toys.
Published by Nolan Foster
Nolan Foster loves to learn everything about anything, and is always looking for new subjects to write about. Currently a freelancer for AC and editor of a collaborative writing blog, he lives in the Philly... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentI love your poetry - always so surprising.
Very deep, I'm going to have to read it several times and I'm sure each time will unveil a new understanding
Fantastic poem. Thanks for sharing...
Wow! This poem has excellent imagery and speaks to all of the senses.
This is a very powerful poem with strong images and message. Well done!