as we cycled by
a corpse
had been placed
by
the side of the road
it needed to
be counted
by
an official
who
could not
arrive
today
so
the body
was placed outside
of
the village
that
would facilitate
the count
tomorrow
since
the official
could
just drive by
to enter it
into
the records
then
the body
could be buried
afterwards
that
reminded me
of
how we vote
in this country
placing the body
of
freedom
on the side of
the road
of
personal gain
not realizing
our children
will have
to
bury the body
no winning numbers
but go ahead and place a bet
every now and then
the house casts out some cash chum
to lure and trap target fish
hooking minds on fantasy
unwrapping presents sharing moments of laughter all’s well in your world a limited world excluding homeless children and those left alone by time have another glass of cheer
such
an
old temptation
lust
lying dormant
in most
the whole year long
until
that
ceremonial
religious holiday
when
kissing
coveted
neighbors
and
friends
under
the mistletoe
and
indulgent requests
for
needless gifts
reveals
its presence
in
the human heart
oh
some would say
it’s
harmless frivolity
nothing
more
surely
nothing
abhorrent
to which
i
must reply
is
a lustful
lie
i’ve posted
a
letter
to
death
didn’t bother
with
a
return
address
seemed
rather
pointless
since death
is
omnipresent
actually
the whole
letter
was
pointless
for
the same reason
but
it made me
feel good
to
address death
on
such a personal level
you know
like
when we say
we’re all in this together
or
i don’t see colors
those
ultimate
social platitudes
basted
onto
the carcass
of
human bondage
words
offered
when
folks
are
uncomfortable
or
are
uttered
because
the speaker
is
just plain stupid
about
the history
of
mankind
unable
to
see
that
even though
we
can
feed everyone
and
heal
most
there’s
a reluctance
to
do so
since
there’s
no
profit
in
morality
that’s
why
death
hasn’t bothered
to
write
back
another
world meeting
but
this one’s
a closed door session
in
a secluded corner
of
the world
the topic
limits to growth
regression models
filled the screens
the conclusion
there’s
an absolute need
to
facilitate
survival of the species
so
it’s agreed
populations
must be
pared down
to
reduce
humans’ ecological footprint
each nation
signs
the plan
misinformation
wrapped in the flag
of
individualism
will be
the tool
thus nations
with
the most doubters
of
science
would be the ones
to
sacrifice the most
for
survival
of
the planet
and
the welfare
of
those who
could
think
critically
for
they
would be needed
to
resolve
the world’s
future problems
Read Between the Minds 