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Breathe deep

Chris Volkay
32 lines


LAUGHING GAS

The gas is lovingly
rolled in on dollies
underlings painstakingly set up
the sacred canisters

The religious
political
business
entertainment
leaders all assemble
they adjust their
red flame power ties and
spray their toothy orifices
honey and lemon
no need to apply
butane lighters
bottom of reddish-brown spoons

rags ready to burst
behind smoldering blue eyes
the chieftans
begin the enrapturing cant
valves thrown open
hear the blessed hiss
as laughing gas hits
the petrified pleading eyes

they become dilated glassy serene
on floor laughing
screaming hysterically
drooling happy drool
I enter the room
the gas dissipated
“what’s so funny?” says me
They all break out laughing