Power Ball

“Be warned!”
from above
the disembodied one commands
gas nozzle in my grip
pumping in
the two eighty five fuel
I listen
“you may need,” it says
…what may I need I wonder…
“a few extra minutes,” she says
for I have identified the voice as female
“When filling
the tank
of a limousine,”
the invocation pauses dramatically
the pump clicks off
in the silence
twenty eight dollars
and eighty four cents
the meter reads
another gouge into the savings
on top of the pile
of bills waiting at home
three ninety three
for the electric company
forty for natty gaz
eighty seven to text
“Buy milk” at over four bones a gal.
an endless dripping water torture of funds
I look skyward in desperation
but I see no sky
just the grime encrusted underside
of the shelter
where there is a mounted speaker
it crackles
and the woman offers me a solution
a way out of the trap
“Try your luck,” she says
“Play the California State Lottery today,”
my gaze remains locked overhead
“At last!” I cry
clasp my hands
drop to my knees
tears trail down my cheeks
“An offer of real salvation
of Heavenly reward
here
right here
On Earth
Hallelujah,”
and I dig deep into my pockets
filled with the spirit
bursting with redemptive dreams
I buy the ticket
I tithe to the state
I choose my numbers
I scratch for revelation
clawing at it
as if at my own flesh
the truth hidden underneath
you gotta pay to play
and you can’t win if you don’t

The Gospel According to a Mark

These words are written to those who know
The Law commands we do not steal, do not covet, bear false witness
but nowhere is there found a proscription against the con.

These words are written for those who know
a mark unaware is a chump, and as a chump
must never be wised up
neither should a sucker be given an even break, however
those who confess their gullibility are blessed by the Lord
for the credulous deny their credulity
the Lord forgives the innocent their ignorance,
but the easy target who is shown the bull’s eye upon his back
and closes his eyes to it is held by the Lord in contempt.

Thus it is this is written to those who know
when walking down the street, walk like this:
ears closed to the world,
hear not the carny barking,
do not listen to the hustle of the professional beggar
whose heels are deep-treaded and face scar-free,
follow well lit roadways and tarry not among whores and drunkards
unless you can’t help it,
and then speak loudly of your poverty,
and of the open sores upon your loin
inebriates and harlots will give unto you a wide berth,
close your senses off to bright flashing lights,
two for the price of one sales,
special offers requiring a year’s service commitment
for thy only heart belongs to the Lord
and may not commit to another,
in fact, speak those words unto the huckster,
and witness them tremble in the presence of such faith.

As the commercial break approaches
prepare thy thumb, place it upon thine clicker
ready to mute out
the sirens of lust, gluttony and greed
even the most steadfast and self-aware amongst eager believers
are easily taken in by sex, food and lotto.

Insecure of his genital, he will compensate
through sport’s cars, precious gems and exotic flora;
uneducated in the ways of early Homo Sapien evolution,
diet and nutrition
he will seek quick fixes in fat, sugar and salt;
stupid of statistics, he will play games of long-shot chance
placing improbable bets on near certain failures;
a wise man shuns these things
he forsakes billboards and screeching TV pitches
he will accept his small penis
find joy in vegetables, fruits and leaves
and give unto Caesar only what is Caesar’s,
and not a hundred times it due to misplaced hope,
but above all else, and the Lord cannot stress this enough
please, please, please
accept your pathetically inadequate junk
as inadequate junk
in this way may we preserve out natural resources,
end discrimination, prevent wars…
gentleman please, study basic biology
fingers, tongues and toys given by the Lord
fingers, tongues and toys
avoid the mark you place upon yourself, for fuck’s sake,
thus saith the Lord