What Rough Beast | Poem for April 15, 2019

Tim J. Nelson
(in)finite

When we have hollowed out
the living Earth
the planet scarred with
dead soil

When the smog replaces
the gentle Pacific fog
when the dust and deserts
erase the water and waves

The so-called elites
will retreat not in defeat
to their concrete
stocked and soulless bunkers

They will count and stack
their useless currency
scan and sort digital memories

Creatures in artificial comfort
they will pop
their last few champagne bottles
toast their false victory

Until the generators die
with a lack of supply
In the dark and dank
bootstraps and bodies rot

From self-appointed kings
to extinction’s eternity
this will be all we will be:

negative or positive energy

Poems by Tim J. Nelson have appeared in Cholla Needles, Poets’ Ink, Grub Street, and Yes, Poetry. Nelson holds a master’s degree in writing from Towson University. In addition to freelance writing, he teaches college composition in Maryland. Nelson writes essays and reviews for PopMatters.com and South85 Journal.  For more information, visit timjnelson.jimdo.com.

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