Issue 7, Winter/Spring 2009

Consumer Society, by Elizabeth Kate Switaj

but never hot  the warmest house
's couch has teeth
                   for woman
 of naked leg, shoulder
                      or anything else to blame
which is everything
nude
or mystery, allure of soft materials or why
            must she mortify and mustn't she
            give the same to me?

                                 & if you can attract
               top flight teeth
   that stab     thickest leather
wallets will open for you
                         & you'll
wear diamonds in platinum cage or
maybe have your own success
                            & meet those fangs in bars
invite them to your condo, your studio, your bathroom down the hall,
               your walk-up, your brownstone floor, your canopy
               bed, your sleeping bag, your futon, your couch

& hey next morning
someone will tell you how lucky you are
to eat, to be free
                   but if you sleep beneath plywood
                  you'll starve   (and not l)e(ast