Popsicles & Power Rangers by Brad Hamlin

I had
exactly 8 minutes
to write

on lunch break

before
I had to
get back inside
the van and
rush to work again

needed
that second paycheck
to pay for

popsicles & power rangers

and shoelaces
and maybe, I thought
this one will be
one of the

masterpieces

that will
set me free

maybe,
sure …
and maybe

rats
will walk without fear
down the boulevard

shades
around their
fucked up beady eyes
tiny red pricks erect
and challenging

the hypnotized masses.