Synthesis
excised synthetic sweat
in a shot glass
perspiration of cage fighters, lovers
somehow collected at climax
using gas chromatography
viscous yellow, slightly disgusting
physical representation, sex and aggression
entirely manufactured, counterfeit
ambiguous to nature
like stiletto heels, bullets, drones
form follows no function
like a gun made on a 3-d printer
maybe like the rapture
age of design is upon us
likened behavior made of video games
brings pacman to picasso
leaving no tangible evidence of peace
no longer the need to possess
acquisition acknowledges existence
changes perspective about
ethics of design
old temples are crumbling
we are designing our own gods
Eaten Up By Nothing
thunder storming in barcelona
had beach plans
crossing rain slicked plaza
of museu blau
desolate grey sheeting shades falling
all black from the neck down
huge green eyes
got you invited on stage in new york
transoceanic surfer
severely jet lagged
watching yourself from above
moved by mad puppet masters
wry, erudite, free associating
a guitar god
with nice push and pull
trying to keep grounded
as poor players strut
seconds on a stage
seen no more
disciples in kentucky pronounce
dinosaurs died in flood
noah didn’t have room or
they just shit too much
serious power these christian cults
ark tickets a premium
seems all so predatory
salvation pits itself
against natural inherent desires
like being baptized
in bathroom sink of the bates motel
blunt in one hand
rosary the other
starts us on that great guilt trip
like bradford’s great awakening
in the hands of a vengeful deity
being held over the pit
managing phony sense of control
fearing being thrown to the flames
makes you crazy
this internal battle
with the spirit in the sky
and the collection plate
in the end
we all die with
our wits and painted on soul
battle the dinosaur lost in the flood
universe takes no notice of us
total schizophrenia otherwise
god last seen playing skeeball in atlantic city
in texas at a mall his son,
to terrorize us with trivialities,
hawks armageddon t shirts
“…..We are terrorized and flattened by trivialities, we are eaten up by nothing.”
Charles Butkowski
Dan Jacoby is a 1965 graduate of St. Louis University. He is a former special forces soldier, educator, and coach. He has published poetry in Red Fez, Wilderness House Literary Review, Canary, Deep South Magazine and Lines and Stars to name a few. He is a member of the Academy of American Poets.
Photo credit: Nina Aimee Barnes (https://maudlinhouse.net/nina-aimee-barnes)