Monday, December 8, 2008

Tross

“Albatross?”
“Yes, albatross.”
“The big flying bird?”
“Yes, the large flying one.”
“Are they native to this place?”
“No, but they will be soon, I feel it.”
“How can you feel the impending presen—”
“I just can. Something having to do with global—”
“Warming has nothing to do with the onslaught of large—”
“I disagree. I think it has everything to do with this marauding—”
“Marauding? Are albatross the new Mongols? What are they going to do?”
“Can you say ‘Mongols?’ Isn’t that racist? That seems the archaic equivalent of—”
“Blacks? Gays? An abbreviated shortening of a generalized term that is sometimes used?”
“Used disparagingly. But also used slangishly. Where do you stand on the issue of appropriation?”
“I stand nowhere, unless albatross appropriate their own generalized disparaged nickname for their own—”
“Ownership? How can you stand ‘nowhere?’ You have to have a stand. This is that type of nation.”
“To say this is ‘that type of nation’ implies that there is only one type; variety is refused.”
“Variety isn’t refused. It’s just not smiled on. Diversity. At least we look above—”
“Other countries? People? How many? Or do we just seem above a few?”
“A lot. Many. Some even are worse than us, more demanding—”
“Who’s more demanding? The people, or those in charge?”
“Both. While those in charge pretend to be noble—”
“Those below suffer? And they also preten—”
“To defend. They do not. Please, do sit.”
“I should get going. At this pace…”
“Stuck here forever. No fun.”
“That wasn’t the word—”
“Hey, you’re the boss.”
“Damned ‘tross.”
“Albatross?”
“Yes, albatross.”

1 comment:

Unknown said...

e.e. cummings meets a weirdo? Bukowski meets Dylan Thomas? I'm glad the anthropomorphism is alive and kicking in your soul. I think your love of animals is one of your higher virtues.