Wednesday, October 23, 2024

RANSOMWARE

Caucused 
atop the gray 
cornices at dawn, 

the silhouettes 
of crows 
argue with conviction 

the politics 
of lonesome 

as a trait 
or an affliction. 


For my purposes,
down 

at the simulation's 
street view

(not to mention 
yours 

one level lower 
as a reader), 

it doesn't matter 
if this image 

is truth 
or fiction. 

*

Incepted in 
the latest version—

a stealth software update, 
a poetic snatch 
of code inserted—

you are programmed 
to imagine
 
that things 
could be worse:

these scavenger birds 
could yet be 
upgraded—

persuaded 
to peck stars 

from the skies 
of your thoughts 

like they were the all-
seeing eyes 
of the universe.