April Poem-A-Day 1: Moribund

Late to the party as usual, I guess April is National Poetry Writing Month and some people are writing a poem a day for the month. I might do this but I have lots of other things to do. Well, here's one with a cheery theme.

Moribund

Artifice styles itself primary,
a clever disguise fooling many,
cloaking social decay;
the reek masked by perfume.

We buy the modernity,
the speed and the adrenaline
dazzling us with junkie passion,
while we devolve in ecstasy.

When the fire consumes,
when the sensual burn numbs,
what misshapen beast slouches
from shadows to bleat in confusion?

Blinded by bling,
halt by blows,
dumb by babble.

No sanctuary can hide,
no shield can hold at bay
these rending forces,
whirling and ravenous.

Sound and fury
signifying
signs of the times,
and soft ground.

These are the demands,
these are the mouths
gathering ‘round, hunger
plain and naked.

This is our social contract:
serve as a serf,
a polite whip poised and
a plastic carrot dangled.

This is our cannibal contract:
devouring each other
at the behest of secret kings,
never sated, never sated.

© 2009, php