Reagan's Chest - Passage

the engine sweats the skin contraption, weights and measures, in perfect folds,

pullies and levers, two fat bros

balance on the wings of biplanes in the big, torch-lit secret room so it can

fly straight,

rope swings and trapeze,

high wire dress maker’s shop window frames the passing, diving, screeching

parade blow-up mustache man float

bursting out of his nineteenth century bathing suit.

the uninspired, deaf and lived-in line the streets,

hold up flash cards, run and sit with tambourines,

they wind junk, gloves, shoes and collapsible kick ready ribs and rest right in

the square.

when the long and psychotic wire geese in cage cars

have lopped the heads off all of your olympians

and clean kids get sick and die and still you refuse to dig,

look into the egg toward the center of the big bug net phys-ed waltz

and loose your arrows at the dewy bull’s eye

or draw your sword to drag a gash across the middle of a relay

runner, but no luck, no line of finish,

gnaw the loin off half a gym class plastic gold medal winner.

the utmost in protection of your children

bullets do no good, just look at the results.

one hundred gold rings, a disguise, a four foot trench,

a fishing trip, and a detention cannot protect them.

children could fall into a bucket and drown,

but forcefield’s like a uv bonnet.

no more skyshine, no more leg irons,

your precious ones are safe inside

tool and gunbox in brand new colors,

forcefield fun for rotten kids

who’ll never have to spill their guts,

there’s no need for mechanized death.

foster parents on cassette tape, safety first is all year round.