JOHNMICHAEL SIMON POETRY

Someone out there is suffering

long nights gasping for air

water creeping under her door

and it’s cold

 

Insect reptilian mutterings

multiply

cover the floor, religions

crawl over skin

                       

 

Love thy neighbor

chanted endlessly

honor a double-headed

                                    insect god

 

Who after eating its enemies

            will surely consume

                        itself, smaller or larger

                                    bites, hosannas

 

Each mouthful a thousand

            believers, arms, legs

                        clinging to yellow teeth

                                    as it

 

Swallows fire, earthquake, prayer,

            someone out there suffering

                        gasping for air, it is

                                    my third world

 

My most perfect creation

            I try to turn on healing

                        smother it in light

                                    and warmth, but

 

With a last shudder

            it belches

                        swallows itself

                                    and is gone