Fall of the American Empire

What “friendless, needy virgin” is–as me–

embarrassed by their peers’ servility

at altars to The Golden Apple Tree,

the cult of “winning” personality,

the God of many “i”s that cannot see,

that dominance is not maturity,

that empathy is not fragility,

that “suckers” in your selling strategy

will someday get the ego-boost for free

when they depose your ant-hill monarchy?

Who’s unafraid to buy sincerity?

Who puts their stake in love’s temerity?

I’ll gather all the ones you threw away.

We’ll wait our turn; it only takes a day.