song of the atom bomb

here comes
the hollow breath
of insignificance

i take my chances
ride in circles
sure

but stare at me
beyond profanity
while circles
paint another set of circles

you're quite clever

hey
my mother
finally heard about
the three men
i have killed
and she's still shaking
wishing to believe
somehow
it is her fault

and god was there
but was he
sadly wondering
if i existed
on the phone
while sucking jack and coke
and giggling
waiting
for the walls
to fall
around me

every church
i visit
just on christmas
alright
every other easter

if i'm shifting
so too quickly
for you
drank
your share of gasoline
this morning
and my girlfriend's
p.m.s.ing
talk of singapore
jobs lined up
for her
in another week

i can't apologize

you slap me
once
for each
of my non-sequiturs

but burning
here the circles are
around me
and again i'm trying
to tell you
this insanity
won't flounder
this -
the way
about me

you can live
repeatedly
on cuban cigarettes
and mota

but my bars
have closed
forever
wish
that i could say
that i'm addicted
would
that shakes
would come
and wake me
from this numbness
like an aching
but without

(dedicated to adam stern)