Transparent Words - Poetry

 
Poem by Philip K Dick jnr
 
By Ted Slade
 
 
 
The tail lights of the car in front
flickered, a message I couldn't decipher.
At my right a blue neon sign flashed.
To me it said:
"DRINK THIS!"
To the car in front it said: "With you, brother!"
Next the traffic-lights joined in.
A passing helicopter,
a train,
the parliament building.
Soon the whole lit-up city
was babbling conspiracy.
 
The traffic-cop was a fan of Hephaestus.
He said my limp reminded him
of the old master jeweller,
suggested I change my profession.
He assured me the authorities
had everything under control.
"And by the way, sir,
your direction indicator is faulty".
 
The hills outside town are bleak,
scattered wrecks of abandoned machines.
Below me, down in the streets,
I can see the slow dying.
 
 
Ted Slade  July 2000
 

Pg14

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