station break in poetry

the revolution will be advertised
they’ll sell bubble gums cards
just like in the Gulf Wars
not even after the fact
as people are dying
howling in the streets
there will be chase holograms
of generals and martyrs
they’ll be upsold on
ebay for thousands
that’s just how it is

the revolution will be advertised
it always has been
it is and always will be
the peace movement against
the war in Vietnam was
co-opted into Coca-Cola
teaching the world to sing
faster than you could say
“Tet Offense Refreshment”
Che Guevara is now just
some guy on a tee-shirt
your snot-nosed nephew
buys in the mall after taking his
freshman history pre-requisite
that’s just how it is

the revolution will be advertised
your cell organized through a
facebook private group will be
demographically scraped to
sell you discount sunglasses
sell you hip new sneakers
sell you pyramid scheme vitamins
sell you the rope you’re hung with
that’s just how it is

the revolution will be
viral marketing for steak-umms
the revolution will be
a tax write off for a movie star
the revolution will be
an excuse to start a cable channel
and then
when the money runs dry
you’ll sell you a new revolution
all over again

the revolution will be advertised
as sure as the world keeps turning
on its cosmic axis
as eternal as death and taxes
that’s just how it is

Last updated July 30, 2021