The Cerebral Catalyst

Grow up
there was a time for being angry
now be smart
take courses, get qualified, get a job
go conquer the world
leave anger behind at the door
where it starts

there's a time for anger
its hand-holds youth not age
age is a place of sensibility and stillness
listen to the growth of your 401k
the potted plants on your window
the cat's mottled craw as he cleans his genitals

be glad for your well-compensated job
you got by going to the right school
sucking the right cock
kissing the right door to open to the next and the next and the next
until all doors are flung
gaping and inviting

you take the world by the proverbial balls
shove them high and dance in red heels on a spinning globe
spitting teeth and infamy like goblets of mead

squeeze out a kid
just so you can say
ten years down the road
want to see my photos?
a passing fear of loneliness
assuaged
by the neglect you'll fester like starving a lover
makes him hungrier

your child
without knowing why
will love you more than you'll ever care
for your acquisitions, historical nonce, collection of vibrators

and when at 45 you nick yourself shaving
you'll wonder what drips from your legs
whether it's possible you still bleed
given all inside is long dead
and wrapped up in corporate cling-film
ready to be processed

you tell people now
grow up
get a move on
lose yourself
before you give another moment's thought
to anything beside what you were taught
to buckle down, strap in place, wear with pride
the starched suits, the shiny briefcase
girl scout prim

you tell people now
grow up
before out of the corner of every moment
the caustic laugh, the speculative glance
the hours spent stirring lifeless things
an empty dance
leaking
truths
like
lemon
rind

acidy and bitter on the tongue
rolling along
for no one to find.

______________________________________
posted 01.07.08.

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Site founded May 7th, 2003, by Project Catalyst.
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