JOHNMICHAEL SIMON POETRY

paper gallows

heads and sticks

futures hang

on children’s necks

 

and we say

leave them be, only games

sticks and stones

are hangman’s names

 

gallows, dragons

rods that flame

leave them be

only a game

 

monsters mutants

knives and ploys

bedtime now

pack up toys

 

close playstation

scabbard swords

lord of flies

they’re only words

 

hung from paper

skin so thick

it never happened

all a trick

 

paper gallows

heads and sticks

futures bleed

on hangman’s tricks