IF ONLY BETA BLOCKERS WOULD ALLOW ME TO CLEAR YOU OUT 
 

Before life was a parody of itself 
Before the corneal scratch averted stigmatic eyes 
Before the pedestal was purchased at Wal-Mart, half off 
Before one toke over the line was a metaphor 
Before bar brawls echoed the Republic 
Before salt was used as a Metro tool between glass and paper 
Before tongues were translatable and not tied 
Before blue and red were flags and parties

 

I was daydreaming of Gambian Pouched Rats.

 

After technology failed 
After the gas was released that silenced us all 
After weathercasters stopped the marginal guessing  
After Greenland bled into the ocean 
After the bike chain exploded spitting metal fireworks 
After broken plastic flowers were replaced with flesh blooms 
After the melting pot created a cortex bomb 
After life created a parody of itself

 

I still daydream of Gambian Pouched Rats.  
 
 
 
 

Kelyn Stump graduated from Susquehanna University's with a bachelor's in creative writing. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA and is a Literacy*AmeriCorps member working with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council for the next year. Her time is spent teaching Writing, English as a Second Language, and Book Review classes.