At century's turn researchers were hooked
on deadly diseases. Religion was
the open door policy for
economic dominance.

Disturbed, drowning, and bewildered,
in expensive suits and lavish corruption,
America turned to cheap philantrophy;
the right of children
too scared to look God in the eye.

A Hoover and Frigidaire in every home
kept our minds from limbs and torsos
severed and burned beyond the Pacific
and our eyes
from the careworn treee,
the memorial
that once held our boys--
desperate to believe
Christ's thieves promote them in paradise.

Escaping from the cult of irrationality,
Competent winos made a buck,
craved the latest baseball scores,
set a pack of Luckys on fire, because
returning to the Isle of the Blest
the first mate
jabbering and listless
had jumped ship.

The prom was over.
America turned the giggles off
to embrace the custody of debt.

The dragon rolls and licks
a well-placed talon, still gettting fat from fear.