The
Shape of States
I
have decided to write a poem
in
the shape of an unknown state
I
thought first it should be Louisiana
but
since I can't remember
if
I've ever been there
if
would be foolish to write something
about
a place I know nothing about
So
that is the origin of my unknown state
It's
a place where nobody lives
until
some government official
decides
to draw a map
then
places it's unnamed capital
near
yet created rivers and transportation
and
decides what resources
will
make this state wealthy
so
he or she can reap the rewards
of
graft and personal investment
This
state is to be named after some
yet
to be discovered native tribe
with
a history of dancing on full moons
wearing
red berry-stained loincloths
woven
from Morvopinus Tree bark
Again
a tree created by government
biologists
and insane foresters
with
a grudge since the juice
of
this particular berry stings
Yes
the native do wild dances
As
the roads and cities of this state
begin
to take shape
we
are reminded that place names
usually
come from the distinguished names
of
citizens who either gave away their lives
or
raped someone or something
for
personal gain
Arguments
ensue between groups
of
this state's yet to be politicians
An
entire politically correct system
develops
from almost nothing important
the
bubbles spit by fish
chicken
phlegm
dust
from the tops of pianos
I
then realized that this fictitious state
was
probably like South Dakota
the
state in which I grew
from
tadpole in mother's stomach
to
uninterested adult
It
only makes sense to dismiss
this
project entirely
It's
all been done before
and
wasted like all political argument
The
sun shines on this unknown place
Birds
sing Gershwin here
Cows
fart Cole Porter
I
guess we should be thankful
nobody
else lives there
as
I am its only resident
The
budget for state aid to education
is
enormous just like South Dakota
Barry
G. Wick
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