300
Subterranean
to be beneath empire
where the work is done:
which is the history of hiding labor.
All of us waiting for the other foot to drop,
an iron heel in Nike’s.
So put your attention somewhere,
lift with your knees,
cut sacks of onions,
pull a mop.
Rehearsal is today,
you’ll be playing the part unseen beneath the music.
Eating costs us money
so learn to chew the music slowly,
wash down Bach with a cup of grease.
The state loves art!
I once crept onstage and wept,
the crowd cheered:
”Tonight I’ll be performing my latest piece,
I will put away cases of wine while singing
Which Side Are You On in 10 languages.”
You may remember my previous piece
”Alcoholism in 4 parts.”
I leave the stage stunned in silence,
go to smoke and read the news.
History is full of people with titles
telling us “That’s not art,”
which is to say
look how well I’ve kept this room,
only broke enough bottles to keep a buzz
and sleep on the concrete floor.
Jonathon Todd
Jonathon Todd is a poet and musician, living in South Philadelphia. His work deals with observations mainly written between breaks, trying to find humanity outside of and within labor. His work has been featured in Philadelphia Stories, The Lower East Side Review, and Shakefist Magazine among others. His first chapbook "Overtime" is forthcoming from Moonstone press.