You

I stared into the mirror today.
I saw you -
a needled zealot
hovering around my left shoulder;
Adolph Hitler dressed in 
opium-perfumed swatches.

You smelled like her.
You acted like him.
You looked like me.
Swastika tall and evenly abhorrent.
Syringe-insured yet,
never sharp enough to 
successfully stab 
outside the 50-point cork.

You slithered like a quadroplegic, 
into my stratum.
Pointing and probing
a crooked finger -
never healing 
the martyr's wound.

A broken grimace leaves me
ugly flesh to ponder.
Your tentacles:
toothless cleavers eclipse
black-dilated pupils, 
servicing our
boomeranged arms
with dingoed malice -
peppermint leaves and peroxide boil
as the living corpse cackles.

Mussolini removed 
thirteen quieted quills 
from his heart
shortly before the noose was tied.
Into square knots.
Into napkin pleats.
Into a poet's silence - where
our self-induced stupor 
was dragged upon 
spiked cobblestones -

and for that,
my dear Stalin beauty;
I sew my spit into
vile words -
dribbling purposely
upon this diseased
cotton-swabbed
canvas
for you
and I

to clean.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2008

Poem

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A   Avatar
August 25, 2013 at 8:32 AM
Good morning John, ,CONGRATULATIONS!!! on having your poem Featured on the soups home page. enjoy your coming week. Always & Forever * Linda
A  Avatar
August 24, 2013 at 6:14 PM
John, congratulations, on your featured poem of the week. Take Care ~SKAT~ :-)
Adams Avatar
August 19, 2013 at 12:20 PM
wow...powerful words and great images in this piece...congrats on having it featured!
Mckenzie Avatar
August 19, 2013 at 9:09 AM
Ah there you are my friend clever writer and intense feeler of words how are you ? Congrats on your wonderful featured poem ! Love you Laura (C gal) :)
Loveless Avatar
April 8, 2009 at 11:26 AM
powerful...glad i found this read...
Richards Avatar
December 22, 2008 at 6:58 AM
Wow John...I missed this the first time! Amazing poem, and deep with truth! Congratulations on being a winner in the contest!! And Happy Holidays to you and yours! ~ Carrie
Winter Avatar
December 22, 2008 at 5:47 AM
Congratulations John on your win in Michael's contest. Another intense, amazing well deserved poem, and win. Love, Shar
Fawcett Avatar
December 22, 2008 at 12:52 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved 4th Place WIN in Michael's contest. Best, Nigel
Strand Avatar
December 22, 2008 at 12:30 AM
Congrats on your deserved success in Michaels' contest John.Rgds Brian & thanks for your always welcome comments on my postings
George   Avatar
December 21, 2008 at 8:47 PM
John, I have read and re-read this. Metaphorically speaking - a relationship with an uncompromising Russian woman that was hell on earth (Hitler) Betrayal (Mussolini) hung and drug through the cobblestoned street. The Boomeraned arms ( you keep going back only to be chewed up again). I gather the nightmare is over. For your sake - I hope so. Love, Lainie
Foster Avatar
October 6, 2008 at 7:19 AM
Well Done John! your angry pen has been weiled a silver bullet, stake, pitch fork and spitoon toward such vileness... and disgusting acts of terrorism... the aforementioned were indeed some of the most ruthless killers that every walked the earth... This is a very power-packed write. I pray that all is well with you my friend and I thank you for sharing the read. God's Love and Many Blessings, Always, Adell
Jordan Avatar
September 26, 2008 at 2:21 PM
John I reckon you broke it down as far as it can be broken in this poem - truly amazing as your poetry always is - God Bless
Lokken Avatar
September 26, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Wow, so much introspection and depth. All your works are completely brilliant. You never pen anything that is less than amazing. Best wishes, Sara:)
Mckenzie Avatar
September 25, 2008 at 10:51 AM
John you are so you, filled with wild expression and depth and so cleverly done ugly and all I love it! Well thought out!!! Laura :)
Ferreyros Avatar
September 25, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Good one Ezra!
Reynolds Avatar
September 25, 2008 at 5:01 AM
Yikes, I would not want to be on the business end of this poem! Your pointed expressive talents shine black silver in this one - perfect. This is very good, as all of your poetry, always look forward to your poetry, Kristin
Anos Avatar
September 24, 2008 at 8:26 PM
HAHAHAHA! I hope she gets it. reminded me of a FRIENDS episode where chandler suggested the name Joseph Stalin as Joey's screen name. The latter considered it, can you believe that??? Nice take on these three former dictators.
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