Fred Aiken Writing

Tag: Poetry

ANCIENT TEXT MASQUERADING AS AN ADVERTISEMENT

written in an ancient language that looks like precious art being splattered

across a digital screen that can only read 64-bits of bone and viscera,

while filaments get filtered out,

but that’s okay,

there were never all that important, or at least that’s what we’ll say when asked by

nosey consumers that want to understand every detail

FALSE CHECKMATE

the gambit doesn’t work,

too slow,

not enough momentum, not the right season,

the premoves look too deliberate and we’re outta time,

but we never had much to begin with,

so take what you can get and give random check

MOVIES AREN’T WHAT THEY USED TO BE

begrudgingly silent in the movies while the popcorn cracks

beneath the surface of my toes

and i ask for the usher to play another movie

because i don’t like the one playing

but they tell me that’s not how this works,

so shut up

and watch the damn show