they’ve erected a statue
right on the main square
where the gutters swill red
it must all go somewhere
more than a grand opening
there the ribbon is cut
the people jockey to see
a democracy forgot
note his moment of glory
how blindly the crowd loves
none mention the bodies
a truth that secretly rubs
& yet in a week or so
the leavings will remain
of know-nothing pigeons that
care not for fascist gain
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024
yeah, seagal loves putin, besties forever
see them carve it out in a heart on a tree
better still on warm bodies
& i’m sure their mutual wankery
is the one true path to enlightenment
why would they live to serve
when they can shirk all that’s deserved
shitting themselves in a shared hole
of their own making, always taking
we all know how this story goes
putin hates zelenskyy, enemies forever
see him carve it out on a nuclear tease
better still on still bodies
i’m sure his religion of geography
is the one true path to dominance
they both have skin in the game
a bit more so than you & me
yet all we can do is sit & argue
does might make right, peace less so
we all know how this story goes
yeah, trump loves trump, cahoots forever
see him carve it out on democracy
better still on nubile bodies
& i’m sure his lies & weaselry
is the one true path to supremacy
still dodging the arm of law
all we can do is cheer or boo him
& putin plays trump like a fiddle
as both try to outstrongman seagal
we all know how this fucking story goes
by TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2024
a wall at the edge of my mind
my eyes said not to put it there
well, don’t believe your eyes
what is this, anyway?
is the wall to keep them out
or to keep me, the recalcitrant, in?
well, i don’t care about walls
and you’re no humpty dumpty
can a wall breach to contrivance?
feel like consensus collapsing?
well, you don’t value consensus
and i’m no citizen of the quorum
(and no one believes in democracy anyway
not anymore)
by TETIANA ALEKSINA & TONY SINGLE
© All rights reserved 2023
unbolt me 