they ask you

cupping notes of chocolate at breakfast

melting glaciers with my mouth —

see, i am powerful with this pen;

the powerful think they want swords.

they give you folly, and ask gratitude for it;

they ask for a tithe from pension;

they ask you to carry the basket;

they ask you to slip nickels in for the sake of god;

they ask you to cover your fucking nipples for the sake of modesty,

but they want you to feed them.

johnny cover your mouth when you cough;

when you speak,

you are contagion.

you are an animal.

you are a zombie.

that is why they ask you.

photo by zachary s. valladon

zachary valladon is an oklahoma city based creative. zsv on twitter.