Subliminal

the letters on the screen
are inhabited by people

who want to kill you

they are flourescent bulbs
trapped in the walls of a maze
shaped to spell freedom

after being fed six pills
every three hours
for nine weeks

the letter people

ate through the walls
and hurled themselves

into the space between the text

 

their true goal 

is to direct

but the pharmaceutical regimen
freedom put them on 

 

left them susceptible

to believing

 

they must be standing 

in a pool of your blood

to make a dollar

 

they think love has a shape

a color

a required equipment list

 

a representative is asking you to lie on the couch

a profile has been created for you 

 

you will be prompted

to select a legacy administrator

 

press spacebar to continue

---

I’m Not, But I Am

I’m not
campaigning
to be President

but I’m
building
my library.

I’m not
the founder
of a social
network

but I’m
wearing
a hoodie.

I wasn’t
born with
a Silver Spoon
in my mouth

but I talk
sitcom philosophies.

I’m not
a spy

but I’m chain
smoking.

I didn’t go
to flight school

but I’m a
stoner.

I didn’t
find God

but I married
my best friend.

I’m not
a cult
leader

but my
children
love me.

I didn’t
consider myself
an alcoholic

but I
over-celebrated
every
minor holiday.

I didn’t
create change

but I’m
listening
to podcasts.

I’m not
the Heavyweight
World
Champion

but I beat
myself
up.

I didn’t make
the All-American Team

but I know how to
play the game.

I’d make
a terrible waiter
but I’ll bring you
what you
ask for.

---

Host of The Garage Poets Open Mic, Jeff Taylor has been writing, publishing and performing poetry for over 20 years, he has recently had poems publshed in Ethel Zine and the anthology American Graveyard (Read or Green Books). Jeff lives in Massachussets with his family where he performs with the poetry/music collective Garage Poets.