Zachary Taylor Knox
Dysphoria
i’ve known no proud nation,
no rules, reason, or order, no
ointment to heal this deep chip on my
shoulder, felt little elation
in meaningless victory another
pawn drowned by history, inner voice
crushed by the weight of the boulder pushed up-
hill over and over under the order
of the supposed higher order
whose demands are simple hush, don’t think
too much because “work will set you free” why?
because freedom isn’t free and war isn’t peace
but it’s still a release
Zachary Taylor Knox’s poems have appeared in Ealain and Penny Ante Feud. He lives in Fort Madison, Iowa.
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