the fruit decays

like some creative misunderstanding

following the sounds of whatever

it is

ism, izm, is 'em

put on your smile-shield

while my eyeballs float

in the warm pools of my flesh

and him over there   he paints christ

he only paints christ

and the two other dudes     they paint christ

and his father

he only paints            the woman

the same woman

over

and we fill in the gap with chain-link

held with pop-corned tension

we are the dusty feet of painted faces

the after glow is reminded

of best

happenings are like painted bodies.

crack and flake

when ancestor’s lead is turned litigious

golden crisp just like always

forever

each an every one

you can hear it in the sizzle of samaritan beauty

you apologized

at dinner        remember

your Incredibly Short Memory

and the dessert was served

as a form of prayer

and the mice hummed

and table trembled