Ransom in Burnt Neon
The city has something to say
in the letters we can't see.
"Big O Tires" is just an "ire" away
from Rodney King all over again.
"The Glass Works" hides a dirty secret
behind its already suspicious "gl,"
if you'd just see through it.
The tight-lipped "De" betrays
why break time near the vending machine
is so popular at "Office Depot."
"Wa-Mart" cries "Noel"
because every day is Christmas
in a department store.
"Starbucks?"
Drop that snake's hiss
and stand revealed for what
you really serve,
that fuel from earth's underbelly,
and what we're willing to pay
to get up and go . . .
. . . on tires that prefer their side
of the road.
Those seemingly burnt out neon letters
are the city's way of
clipping out a ransom note.
It's holding the obvious
hostage.
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