Tabloid

Cannonfire is not going to turn into a poetry blog. But. One of ou most faithful readers, Jen, happens to be a published and respected poet, and one of her works touches on some of my favorite topics. I'd like to share it with you...

"Tabloid"

Jimmy Hoffa is Alive
—And Living in Palm Beach!—
where Sunbathers Vanish Inside Portable Toilets
and Batboy Masters Speech.

How are we more a dream,
or less a lie,
than the words government sources reveal
in documents obtained by ?
Yes, the President May Invade Zanzibar
but our Scientists Have Found A Creature Eating Up the Stars
—And the Moon May Be Next!—
(Or Mars!)

We give you weight loss miracles,
warn you where Bigfoot lurks,
reassure you Hitler's face still smirks
in the pie crusts at your Labor Day picnics—
he goes away sometimes, though never far,
we know you know the value of a war.

We've slamdanced with Jesus,
Elvis, too,
we've unearthed eutopia in Kathmandu,
we've aimed lasers at your eyes,
can prove that you
love Jesus, Elvis, Batboy,
his face grey in the flashbulb,
his webby fingers reaching for your heart.

One sacrifice
and you're forever guarantied
endless Secrets From Jackie O's Diaries,
a risen Christ to offer you reprieve—
All Real! All True!
Believe, believe,
believe.