Dedicated to my friend Karl Sorne who inspires me to write.
Encore, Encore
Dip me in the Styxx like Thetis did her son;
Cover my heel so I can live forever.
Make me immortal.
My scions are heroes and pariahs,
Hawks doves, eagles, buzzards
Eating the meat off ancient bones.
Anoint my head with Coca Cola,
Shine my linoleum floors to brilliant light,
Make my breath sweet like juicy fruit
Kiss my clean-shaven cheek goodbye;
Remember me in megabytes.
As the new man who aged gratefully , and (gratefully)
Who appreciated the nuance of vulgar religion.
Sing to me hymns of praise
In glory I charged the enemy who with fire
Immolated my face and pilfered my simple soul.
Embalm me before I die; replace my blood with beer.
Bury me beneath a new parking lot paved with tar.
Yellow and white lines mark the spot.
Park here but not there or there. Disturb not the dead.
Comb my hair flat, restore my bald spot.
Paint my cheeks with rouge, powder my neck.
Line my eyes with black pencil,
Trim the hair from my nose.
Shave my ears.
I want to look good as the hollow man playing it out
On the greatest stage. A final performance
before an audience of imaginary men who clap
and scream for more.
Encore, Encore!
--Albert Pace
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