The Shape of States

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