Eaten By Ants - Part 1
no one saw it coming they never do
the phone poles were giving off sparks
dogs began to howl birds flocked to the sky
A Plymouth hubcap of immense proportions
quivered and droned in the air over the capitol
television screens from one coast to the other
blinked and flashed and sputtered in unison
two fetus-headed visitors from the vast starry ocean
floated to the ground in a lime green light beam
introduced themselves as Hoo and Watt
then performed an Abbot and Costello baseball skit
we bring humanity a gift in a box with a message
if you open the box and read the words writ within
you must under threat of annihilation do what it says
you can confer and decide we'll know if you peek
a murmur of animated if disorderly consternation
rippled menacingly through the assembled delegates
if we read the message it could mean slavery
went one side and began arming themselves
it is but a message how malevolent can that be
went the other side who were of a trusting nature
and began calling their investment bankers
as the great spinning hubcap lit like a jukebox
hummed up and away through the clouds
but back on the surface ripples of disquiet deluged
conditions grew tense fires were set mail was stolen
the metal box hovered mutely in the rotunda
giving off the smell of jungle gardenias
women fainted children giggled and pointed
dogs barked and humped one another
ears back tongues akimbo butt to butt
we must read the message it is salvation
we must not read the message it is tyranny
it was a quandary that spanned the plantations
and spread a paroxysmal miasma across the land
the musts and cants mud wrestled through the night
the great rotunda heaved and rattled
eyeballs were gouged tufts of hair unmoored
the bedlam reached a crescendo of exhaustion
fatigue at last brought silence and reflection
the jaw grinding impasse had lasted weeks
vultures circled plaster fell from ceilings
then a small voice from the back of the throng
a cheeky tousle haired lad blurted bravely
flip a coin
(to be continued)
Copyright © Walter Alter | Year Posted 2022
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