the laughter
that never really was
stepped up boldly
to the old and crumbling dais
and failed

and with the greatest
panache and aplomb
filled to the brim
with self
with all manner of unwarranted aggrandizement
and lies

the laughter failed again
youth
was having none of this

nostalgic memories
of that thing
that thing of such past
and nearly universal power
still referred to as it was
had died long ago

that thing
had consumed all
until it became empty
meaningless
and struggling
desperately grasping
for relevance

it pummeled youth
with weakness
neutered by sad
sad old beauty
no longer seen
co-opted by capitalism
and run screaming

full steam
to the ground
down
the perpetually poisoned earth

it curled and curdled
crawling
somehow clapping
with unconscious faux propriety
and cried

and the laughter
that never really was
failed again
and died

Peace/Love

m(-_-)m