Mutation Poem by Elnathan John

you used to dream
of kings with balloons and candy
you used to dream…
and i would laugh

you used to speak
of painless circumcisions
and of doves, white doves-

while we both could see
the dark hollows of mouths
while we could perceive
the odor of charnel houses
and hear the desperate beating of hearts

you floated on your dream-raft
and i laughed!

now i see you-
you have learnt much:
to tell sincere lies, smiling
to sit in dark rooms
that reek of bullets and ballots…

you have eye bags now-
you no longer sleep
you can now suggest
for plan b
a smart solution
like chaos…