I Would Rather Be… Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Thirteen pages of absolute nonsense,
pure propaganda without an ounce of
truth, crass materialism, prejudice, lack
of understanding and insight – and you
want me not only to read this junk, but
to translate it also?

I would rather be consumed by a legion
of ants, be stung by a myriad bees, face
a ravenous lion or a rabid dog, rather be
crucified or stoned to death, than read
and translate such stupidity, rather start
digging to find the Tibetan tunnels

Mentioned in Good Omens, meet hostile
aliens conducting strange experiments on
human victims, seek for the ancient under-
ground cities described by Von Däniken,
rather walk barefoot over glowing coals,
be stuck on the SS Eldridge ship of the

Philadelphia Experiment, moving in and
out of time, running the risk of deep freeze
as explained by the elusive Victor Allende,
rather fly over the Bermuda Triangle or
confront the Japanese Devil Sea, rather
be stuck on the moon or fall into

An interminable rabbit hole, than read and
translate this document; every time I look
at it, the skin on my head starts to shrink,
I would rather be skinned alive by the last
of the Mohicans, have my heart torn out
still beating while I am alive

In sacrifice by the ancient Mayans, than
work on this piece of utter stupidity…