America
by Michael Barron
After Allen Ginsberg
America, you’re drunk / America, I’m tired / America, what good is a melting pot with a ladleful of holes? / America, all your fat has floated to the top / America, I can’t swim / America, your ladder has no steps / America, pull yourself up / America, be honest, there was never a ladder / America, have you played The Sims? / America, you know how this ends / America, room full of ovens with no doors / America, even your bed is self-made / America, lie down / America, armless footless toothless / America, dentures in your apple pie / America, your teeth are rotten / America, my insurance doesn’t cover dental / America, I don’t have insurance / America, the card reader isn’t working / America, I feed it dollars, it asks for bullets / America, I feed it bullets, it asks for dollars / America, have you seen the bodies? / America, have you no other currency? / America, who will pay your tab? / America, pay with your life / America, this is not rhetorical / America, I can’t eat war / America, I need nourishment / America, show me your papers / America, get in the van / America, consult the oracle / America, ask again later / America, with every shuffle I draw Death / America, The Fool, / America, Death too / America, you’re out of aces / America, the house always wins / America, the house is on fire / America, my dog hates you / America, we only hate what we once loved / America, isn’t that a pretty lie? / America, put it on credit / America, mine declined / America, who holds the cards? / America, go fish!
Michael Barron
Michael Barron is a poet from Michigan. He holds a Bachelor's in English from Oakland University. Follow him on Substack at @michaelbarronwrites.