A Poem by Peter Dugan

The Tentacles of the Megalopolis

by Peter Dugan

the sky is overcast

zombies in limbo, shuffle along,

doing a dance of entitlement

smoke wafts through the air,

flashing lights, the hum of electricity,

fueled by a pot and beer buzz

sounds blowing loud, heavy and light

creating a cacophony and symphony

ominous and foreboding

a darkness, a blackness, an abyss.

it whispers a woeful lament,

shedding bitter tears

that burn and tarnish

the world that once was

and nobody is curious

everyone just looks the other way

with the nonchalance

of playing hopscotch

outside the cathedral

I look up toward the spire

Money is the new Messiah

a false godhead composed

of the unholy trinity

Gold oil & diamonds

black and blue words

spoken by bruised egos

measured by caliber and millimeter

delivered with willful ignorance

and detached distain

cultivated and spawned

on the agar of hype

a glaring incandescence,

cool to the touch

the carcass of the serpent

cast out of the garden

life in the gritty city

they say there is beauty in darkness

Peter V. Dugan will appear at The Gazebo on June 8, 2009.

The Summer Gazebo Readings feature 4 author/poets each Monday evening in June, July and August, 7 pm at Schoolhouse Green in Oceanside, NY. See the links to the right for our schedule and directions. Bring a lawn chair and come on down!