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Alienation Sestina.BY CHRIS STROFFOLINO
Without using the word. Maybe the image could also be A sign of love. What is a sign of love? Not practical Like stop, yield, or even merge. Therefore, art like a postcard Of Philadelphia. The world would not be a better place if love signs Were placed like speed limits on purple heart highways or "Sorry we're open" Signs on stores or private residences whose doors you can open Without ringing a bell. But I'll skip the image and jump into "alienation" As if it's a theme or argument I'll cling to until the feeling signs Its name and is finished off by thought—for how can you truly be Alienated when most everyone you know plays that card Like hearts on their sleeves which would be highly practical If cops wrote you love tickets for speeding through the practical In hopes of getting it out of the way, out into the open Where the image of love is left in the honky-tonk where they card You for the privilege of drinking yourself out of it. So maybe alienation Is closer to true love than all the drunkenness that makes you think you can be All that you can be, in the army arms of one, according to the advertising signs But you can't even tell what they're selling anymore. Someone signs His life away, another her dreams, and why? Because the practical Speaks softly and carries a big stick. Pragmatism, baby! Go on, be A possum. You can pretend the foundation's solid, the earth won't open And swallow you up, and leave you ecstatic, transcendent. Ah, but alienation Is what they'll call it, because to them you can't live in reality without a card So the fear of transcendence or alienation could be that social security card Like in that long-haired early-1970s Jesus-rock song that protests against signs. That guy who sings it is wild and free and doesn't struggle with alienation. He's so fun-loving as he mocks private property, it might even seem a practical Alternative to what The Clash would call "the clampdown" to the kid who's open And searching for some kind of better way; who just can't resign himself to be Like his parents. It's possible! Yes! But the god of sky and rock and roll may be Jealous as well; dammit! And besides, after a while Jesus will have to produce a card Or at least some miracles to prove he can be in but not of "this world," which is open, But only for business, alas, unless we can prove that the guy who wrote "Signs" In his early 20s managed not to get crucified and eked out a modest, practical, Existence, on faith, and if so, why couldn't one 30 years younger embrace alienation As if it's (junebug) love or (frozen) fun or a get out of jail free card? Could it be That times have changed so much? If you look at the practical signs, sure; But if you're alienated from an already alien nation, that leaves it more open, no?
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