POETRY

[Jesus Can Not Save]

Natalie Riley

Bhdbchshdbc Thoughts. Bbhrdc Simon and Garfunkel. C sdnc America. Bdcjbsdjhbchsdbchd …. Jesus can not save us now when I am looking at America. chjbdshcjbsdhbchjsdbchdsbhcbdscbdshcbhdshcbhdshbcbhdsc Inglourious. bdchbsjdbc Saran wrapped. Cbdb Parasitic. Cbsdhbchds Where we live for the dime, worship emails, and preach crypto. Hcjhvgshcvghdscv When the nine to five gnaw trenches into your average Joe, economic silos are a game of who knows how to talk in hundreds or millions.

cbwhjbchjdbc bckjdbjkcbjdhbcjhdbscjkbdsjkcbksjdbchksdbcjkbsd ncjndbsjcbjkdsbcjkdsbjckbsd bcjdsbcbds. Whispers “Jackson, Grant, Franklin, can you hear me now?” Jdcbhjsdbhcbdshjc What good are morals if tithing serves penance for corruption? kncjkdsnjcs It's just another sad story on the television. Hdbchdsbhjcd And so the doctors prescribe Lexapro; Jncjdsnjcndjs Green. Ndncm sd Sewage. Jncjkds Reek. We devour and engorge. Ncjbdshcbhdbsc Toothpicks scraping the crud off our white smile. Why so chipper when our children dance to the thumping of hungry bellies? days.ncjdsbjcbjdhsbc

I am looking for America. Bent with hands clasped, pressed against forehead nchdjcbsdIs What is the difference between praying or simple frustration? High-class, clean-faced pinup dolls plastered on editorial campaigns. Bcdhbchdsbc Yes perfection, conniving—calculated, but at least it is something to believe in. I am looking backward America. Jdschbdshjc I am looking to Childhood America. To the kid whose parents don’t speak American. dcbhjdsbchjbd Tiny. jsdj Sweaty. Jdnc Palms. Cjdsbch Ripped from weathered hands. Njdncdjcnjdnc Cheers to childhood. hcsbdhc Frozen. Jbebchj Lost. bjbcshjc Time.Jdncjkdsnd cn dn cnd nmc dn cmd smc dms cmd scm, dsnm,c mds cmd smc dms cmd mc mds cm dsmc md cm,d scmd cm, dms,c m,d cm,d cmd cm,d smc dmsc mds cmd mc dmc md cm dmsc mds, cm,ds cmds m,c mds, cm,ds cm dsmc dmsc m,ds cm,ds cm,ds cmdsmc

So toss me a cigarette America. This feels bizarre America. In my all American ford, America. All gas no breaks, Jesus take the wheel. No one is safe in America.

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