Monday, November 16, 2020

LONG LIVE THE LAST KING

by Mickey J. Corrigan




People are saying it’s the biggest
the greatest, the best crowd
this shithole has ever seen
sleek limos slide through, his face
at the bulletproof window 
mouth open, golf cap tight
on his oversize head

People are saying
the crowd's as big as Lincoln's
and everyone wept, even Jesus
the fans wild with joy
racecar thrilled to see him
to be seen by him
the man who would be king

People are not saying
he took an appalling strut
across the world stage
that ended in folly, farce
reflecting internal unrest
bubbling anger, belligerence
and distrust of everyone else

People aren't saying
he was a mad genius
skilled at detecting weakness
in a narrow human range
of emotions others feel
absent in his lurking bulk
under the ruby crown
the bloated expression
of abject fear

People aren't asking
why the devout followers
of this crazy cult
still willing to sicken 
maskless in the face
of scientific evidence, millions
of facts like corpses piling up
vowing to win at all costs
or die trying

 
Originally from Boston, Mickey J. Corrigan writes Florida noir with a dark humor. Novels include  Project XX about a school shooting (Salt Publishing, UK, 2017) and What I Did for Love a spoof of Lolita (Bloodhound Books, 2019). Kelsay Books recently published the poetry chapbook the disappearing self. Grandma Moses Press will publish the poetry chapbook Florida Man later this year.