What They Were Told to Do by Jennifer Lagier

They salivate over
National Enquirer hit pieces,
manufactured conspiracy theories,
rely on fake news hysteria,
to shape their opinions.

Lame-ass commercials
sell them unnecessary trinkets,
unhealthy food supplements,
unsustainable diets,
nubile online companions.

Wearing “These Colors Don’t Run”
tee shirts, they drive American-made
gas-guzzling junkers
decoupaged with misspelled
slogan stickers,

They wander Walmart aisles,
commandeer civic meetings,
shout down rational discourse,
parrot extremist sound bites,
spew rehearsed hatred.

Jennifer Lagier has published thirteen books, taught with California Poets in the Schools, co-edits the Homestead Review, helps coordinate Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium readings. Newest books: Scene of the Crime (Evening Street Press), Harbingers (Blue Light Press), Camille Abroad (FutureCycle Press). Forthcoming: Like a B Movie (FutureCycle Press, 2018). Website: jlagier.net Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferLagier/