1
Poetry
Page 14
Street Roots • Feb. 26-March 3, 2016
Cycles
Brainwashed State
by Rachel D.
by Slow Coyote
Brainwashed state
brainwashed state
Dark at 4:30
light until 10:00
From sick of constantly being cold
to too hot to want to touch you,
from squash to berries.
Hormones, the end of the world.
From pimples to tears,
relish the pain.
I like to feel my highs and lows.
Anti-depressants, too flat
Pain is uncomfortable,
but at least it means I’m growing.
Not just coasting through life,
cycling through.
Who is fake
skin singes
under UV rays
punk
¡-,y chance S
jusj now
jn ^ g sjience
i was
nnnk
again
i have no end.
just now
truth became pathless
this i know
no god
no buddha
no high
or low
just a ticket
to my inner
punk
rock
show.
The planes make
the clouds look real
these days
Black hole
black soul
yet still beautiful
I am void
nestled in dark fur
I emerge
uncovered
Stare as you may
you’re in the play
I’m the doctor
and you, my patients
young, supple ones
You took the bait,
brainwashed state
they gave you a name
and included you
in their donor list
even though it was
your hands
that built their castle
your lands
In tractor bucket upheaval
(they dispose of dirt
into far-flung pits,
stripped of minerals,
gold, oil,
all with your toil)
But you thank them
for throwing
nutritional biscuits
your way,
crumbs crumble
down the line
now you’re in the game
hurry up, take your claim
your own piece of something
even though you’re nothing
Fool tool clown
Brainwashed state
brainwashed state
you are fake
missteps, misled
underfed and now
I spill the blood
and feed you bread