False Etymology of Western Modernity [Today's News Poem, March 1, 2011]

False Etymology of Western Modernity [Today's News Poem, March 1, 2011]

Pass through the root of a word:
It resembles enchanters of blaze,
Medicine wands made of paw
And the pelt of a Nemean Lion.

Passion: an animal zeal.
The religion of sunrise and rays
Sniffs for and snuffs out the source
In the soil, in the catgrass—the cornstalks.

Compassion: the dream of a mouse
Covered in paws; and compassion—the taste
Of blood is the flavor of rain,
Pity and love: the communion of famished.

Romance: desire is a sword
Or wound, or the wounded—the wounding
Passing unbreakable flesh
To memories, hopes, expectations.

Roman: the letters and laws.
Imperial characters slaying
Wilderness, making the peace
With weaponry, ownership, commerce.

Roma: a cairn made of bones
For saints and salvation. Religion
Vanquishes beast and its praise,
Compassion and conscience—the wilderness.

"They are not God, yet they act as though they have all power and authority to determine the day and hour of a baby's death and also the manner in which he dies."
—Jennifer Hartline, Catholic Online, 3/1/2011
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=40526

"Animal control officials are concerned that they have had to put down too many dogs and have developed a plan to curb the euthanasia rate."
—Kevin Valine, The Modesto Bee, Feb. 28, 2011
http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/27/1576232/oakdale-tryingto-reduce-rate-of.html

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Sensors Blink Away the Tears and Say Good-Bye [Twitter Found Poem, July 1, 2010]

Sensors Blink Away the Tears and Say Good-Bye [Twitter Found Poem, July 1, 2010]
Tweets+Edits=#twitterfoundpoem

when we start losing energy levels,
when our jackass won't run,
Remember, you're never too old to be put on a leash.

when we want something to be given to us
instead of going out and getting it,
and we always say "the Next one is on me,"
who likes us enough to keep us around?

Sensors blink away the tears and say good-bye
and put us on a leash. Smart Circuits
drive us to the airport and say good-bye again.
and when we want something to be given to us
we are given a drink on the plane,
and a drink,drink,drink drunk. and we say
"the Next one is on me," like we always say.
As maggots fall from the overhead bin
and bite us 4eternity
the Sensors blink away the tears and say good-bye.

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