Forced Perspective by John Sweet

learn to accept life in
shades of grey
because this is where you live

take the pills and pull the shades

fight back against whatever
disease it is that wants to drag you down

against this american concept that the rich
are more important than the poor
because there is still a need to believe in
victory even in this age of defeat
and it doesn’t matter which way you
vote if none of the candidates give a
shit whether you live or die

it doesn’t matter if all of your food
has been poisoned
if it’s the only food you have

all you can do is eat until you’re
full and then wait
for whatever comes next

john sweet, b 1968, still numbered among the living. A believer in writing as catharsis. an optimistic pessimist. Opposed to all organized religion and political parties. Avoids zealots and social media whenever possible. His latest collections include A NATION OF ASSHOLES W/ GUNS (2015 Scars Publications) and APPROXIMATE WILDERNESS (2016 Flutter Press). All pertinent facts about his life are buried somewhere in his writing.