Light Pollution
The sun shines all night in Corcoran
from the brutal island
that Charlie calls home.
Before Helter Skelter,
all Charlie cared about were orgies
and getting high,
but he’s a life member now,
with a level four pass.
to the club of the Great Unwashed.
Charlie searched Death Valley
for a Cave to the Abyss that exists
behind his eyes.
With those deep chasms
he judged the Establishment.
He listened to locusts sing fire and brimstone,
he grew death from a song,
he planned something witchy one night,
and sent his disciples to spread chaos.
Charlie’s soul is lined with razor-wire;
black eyes feed on blood,
broken bones pile to the sky.
Gladiators die for colors
in their concrete arena
where even birds cannot land.
Charlie’s boys open their arteries in rage
to paint spectacular mosaics
in deep shades of red.
The community tries to forget about
Charlie and his Family
as they drive past his sentry towers
on their way to work.
They cut their lawns on Saturdays,
they buy groceries and say grace,
they watch their children play
and they laugh,
but at night,
they can’t see the stars.
- Danna Hobart
