like false kings growing fat on the corpses of children

a different assassination in a
later century, but
the idea remains the same

history written lightly in pencil
in case the
names need to be changed

one small step in someone else’s
idea of the right direction

you invent a cause, and then
you figure out
who needs to die for it

John Sweet sends greetings from the wastelands of upstate NY. He is a firm believer in writing as catharsis, and in the continuous search for unattainable truths. Recent poetry collections include HEATHEN TONGUE (2018 Kendra Steiner Editions) and A DEAD MAN, EITHER WAY (2020 Kung Fu Treachery Press).