Late Capitalism
The poets lived their lives
in late capitalism. They wrote their poems, bought their hybrids
in late capitalism. They sent their kids to the best schools they could afford
in late capitalism, made their homes in the economic centers
of late capitalism. They pursued each other with the sexual vigor
of late capitalism. They ate the charcuterie platters
of late capitalism. They celebrated the cultural inclusivity
of late capitalism as they taught in the universities
of late capitalism, visited the resort towns
of late capitalism. They rode around the world on the wings
of late capitalism. They retired inside the 403(b)s
of late capitalism. They promoted their events online
in late capitalism. They vaped in the alleys
of late capitalism, drank the imported whiskies
of late capitalism. They gathered conspicuously on the steps
of late capitalism, their meager crowd shook its fists
at late capitalism. They were buried in the caskets
of late capitalism, cremated in the fires
of late capitalism. And you in the future
of late capitalism, looking back at us through the glacier
of late capitalism, what particles do you find sealed
in late capitalism, what light penetrates the glassy compression
of late capitalism?
(published in The End of Childhood)
