a poem by Vincent Hostak
“Satire is a lesson, parody is a game” Vladimir Nabokov
“When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities” Chen Chen
Welcome to our Privilege Reveal Party We name the unknowable as if each were Aspects of light we divine each new day Troubling little how their “light will be spent.” You, see, here we have an advantage. You Could call it immunity, our treasured, Proprietary Certainty Principle One can only learn from our cryptic method. Try it: Just turn your head this way, yes, that’s it Now repeat: “Away. Away is the Way.” Also, say this, “We don’t see color here” Now, here’s a secret: not all we say is true We declare today only pink and blue will do. You’ve arrived! Enjoy the flash and fury Now we can share many secrets to unlearn: We know a meadow not far away where Every cactus with a root can reproduce, family members bloom as each would so resolve. A saguaro cardon rises, outlives you, its influence: nearly immeasurable. White-throated sparrows hold their eyes keenly to neglected tracts of shade growing briars uncloaking the colors we’ll never see. But, worry these matters not a moment more Let us make non-abundance abundantly clear, not one from that meadow is invited here.
Wild, Abandoned 