videogame

all this balance nothing to show for it
    seesaw the most patient of virtues–
                                   patience
                   get up god damn it
                                     when you fall can you please get the fuck up
              lemons fire from cannons
                        zest on my back
                        & I am always running
                                           can’t say the words right in my head
                              but in the glitch of No Music just levers clicking
                        & motherfuckers shouting woo! in the sorry
                                                                                               white
                                                                                                         sky

(originally published in TRIBES, Fall 2021)

boys who would be future men squealed at new Pokemon. mimicked moves, karate'd birds flapping and winging and flinging OVER NINE THOUSAND! miles per hour and things eight-dollar K-B Toys always break blue mega man onto metal bunk bed swung CLANKCLUNK sprints'a from kitchen, lotsa surge, hi-ye-ho bullet train small-scale rail the basement digging digging through purple bin TREASURE! TREASURE! homemade pogs; on one side the cut-out cartoons from game manuals, Zero so cool his long blonde hair, red armor give me his sword no it's mine x-buster circular cutting rise to heroes controlled control was so easy yes, yes, think of life– death in digital terms those boys were the masters then the future men and their cold basement summers (originally published in Suburban Diaspora)

James Croal Jackson

Poet / Editor

Fall Guys #2

Future Men