EMANCIPATION PROCRASTINATION

The United States of Dependency
The United States of Transparency
all laugh, love, live in the same
lil' lie
all beg, fall, give for the great
big eye
you're a little kid, now you're a big kid
quick
which kid are you,
red, white, or blue
who are you today
and what day is this
and why should that matter
watch the old men scatter
as the world gets flatter
and you're expected to know
the names, the names
and the dates
and the combination to the
lock
that keeps shut the gates
another prison break,
another boiling lake
along creeps the snake
and breakfast is ruined

burned toast and the ghost
with the most is still dead
no matter how many little
kids pet his head,
no matter how many
breakfast cereals
no matter how many
tv movies
a ghost is still a ghost
just a ghost
not breathing
not living or caring
just scaring and haunting

christmas in july
summer school in december
childhood wishes
burn then turn
like embers
a fire for warmth,
food, to dance around
drunk and nude,
to destroy the evidence,
at the altar doing penance

Christ suffered for you
now suffer for him too
it's only fair that those caught
unaware, be forced to leave their
lair, to stare and try to care
as our own worst fears
get realized
and you try to
write a poem
about your father's eyes
but no matter how you
try, you can't
and he dies

and your books and
the notes that you took
are all left to rot
in the hole that time forgot
the farce of camelot
the hideous waking scream
from the American
dream.