(a)bsolute r(a)cism

all along all alices & all alicias
assumed all alices att-
acked all alicias
& all alicias att-
acked all alices.

all assume
all achieve assumption
as all achieve adulthood &
anyone assuming as an adult
assumed as an adolescent

all alicias & all alices
attain annihilation
as all alices authorize att-
acking all alicias
& all alicias authorize att-
acking all alices.

anyone as an agent
assumes anyone against any
alice assumes
actuality & authenticity &
all amazingly appropriate & acceptable.
an alicia at any appearance assumes alike.

 

K-Pop Ulysses

I remember listening to K-pop with her
when we heard the news. Poor Dignam! She let
me rub my hand between her garters. Stephen! Telemachus, I said
be stoic like your father and conquer all! We didn’t understand
anything they sang, but we liked it. HyunA. Poor Super Junior!
Mentor, help me! She moved my hand. Nestor, help me! I
thought of how small the world was. How we watch what others
couldn’t before. I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me—
He drowned. The news was that he drowned. Glub. Glub. Glub. Glu—
Korea is an island. No, a Peninsula. Surrounded by water. Korea. South. Do K-pop idols drown?
She said to take it slow. Fast. Slower. Faster. Slow. Slow. Faster. Faster. Faster.
And his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will yes. Penelope, finish your shroud.
I shall wear black—to pay my respects.