they spake from on high
& answered questions
you never even asked

they spat from on high
& they did not care
that you were bareheaded

they were three in one
a shining countenance
that burned away all souls
like an atomic bomb

to the right of them
a grinning glad lad
that entangled all minds
like a poison ivy

to the left of them
a scowling bag hag
that finagled all eyes
in a barbwire birdcage

they ruminated & belched
their stale truths & false faiths
rolled reality with cud

& so they clawed from low down
demanded their pound of flesh
to marinate in shame
& roast in atomic fire
seasoned with poison ivy

but when all was said & done
it proved a lot easier
to arise from your deep recliner
press a button, shut off the feed
you chose to kill television
& another life was saved today