Paradise,

Taken by criteria-

Performative and mutilated:

Pure context. 

Cadaver fashion classifies 

Death 

As Reward 

And

Life 

As Rot. 

Hindsight sequencing 

Disturbs linear allegiance.

“Mantra”

“Ponderance”

(mantra)

(ponderance)

//////////////////

Conscious plays 

Truncate a blank stare,

Doing so during 

Menial tasks

Like a vacuum running idle,

Zoning out in mediation 

As its motor drones in harmony 

With dust plumes,

Or artists

Who exchange red-light moods 

For fishbowl glass…

…magnifying iris colors and inspiration. 

Whistles in the alleyway 

Announce upside down voices

Frowns 

And

Happiness. 

Guts

And 

Hearts 

Inside the same corpse.