Pandemic Neoliberals
Tacoma, before
everything went to hell:
eating fresh salmon and
drinking martinis
against a sunset backdrop
of Puget Sound
moments before
the car crashed
into a utility pole
at ninety miles per hour
and nobody
survived the accident.
Tow away the wreckage,
no one wants to see it.
Take off your facemask,
order another martini.
None of this is normal, but
it’s good enough for you.
Safe.
Safer.
Safest.
Make a list
of your fears,
so you
can cover
each base, and
save yourself
from harm.
A hazmat suit
works in
a pinch.
If your
hazmat suit
doesn’t fit
right, some
air could leak in,
and the whole
precaution would
be for naught.
Better stay
home forever,
stare at the wall,
grip your
sofa armrests
tight in your
sweaty hands,
and for God’s sake,
never shower,
mow your lawn,
or use the stove,
because home
is the most
dangerous place
of all.
Dumpster Fire Press 