his dog the neighbors' Colonel Kurtz
bloated, insane, and bellowing orders
corrupted backyards under noon
sweat runs cold inside our shirts

bloated madman bellows orders
wife in curlers glowers west
sweat cold running in our shirts
box of freedom, box of borders

wife and curlers glower west
bottles browned in sun-baked glint
box of freedom, box of borders
vans bring men to kill the pest

bottles browned in sunlight glints
his chores intense his dying first
the van brings men who kill the pest
this terminal coincidence

intent he chores on dying first
corrupted backyards of the noon
this terminal coincidence
his dog the neighbors' Colonel Kurtz

JD Frey--January 13, 2000