EBOLA

The baby cradled in her arms was dead
She was weak near death was sobbing dry tears
No, no, no, don’t take her
We have to
You can’t bury her
It’s not allowed
I have money
Please let me keep her
The soldier extended his hand
She placed the money in it
He closed his fingers tightly
Move on
He said to the other soldiers
She stood there cradling her dead child
Looking imploringly at the sky.

  Howard Pflanzer__

© Patricia Carragon: President Cheeto

                © Patricia Carragon: President Cheeto

THROW LIGHT ON SHADY PLACES

Turn up the beam to the max
Freeze them in their tracks
Put them in the spotlight
Flush them from the cracks.

Watch them scurry from the light
Take off into malignant flight
As they scatter
All that matters
Is vanishing into the night.

When the light is dimmed
They come crawling in
Creating a terrible din
Always with us
Never apart
Posing deep questions
We’ve only skimmed
Maybe we’ve always sinned.

  Howard Pflanzer__

HONK HONK BEEP BEEP

Deep death
Now repeat

Unseat the mind
Don’t be kind

It’s like a lemon rind
Meant to be sucked

Not knowing the score
You are royally fucked

Honk honk beep beep
From this world
Never retreat

Once the battle is over
It’s endless defeat

Don’t welcome death
Fight its embrace

Gone too soon
You won’t leave a trace

And no one will remember
You ran the race

Losing is no disgrace
If you were there
That’s what amounts

In the end
There are no recounts

You pay your way
No money back

Make your mark
Till it’s too dark
To see anything at all

Honk honk beep beep
Get off the road
In full retreat

Just wait now
Take a seat
And then repeat.

  Howard Pflanzer__