Which Way?

Written in December '21

which way, western man?

do you go the way of tradition
or do you go the way of progress?

or do you scrap the false dichotomy
and go the way of transgress?

be like Otto and mosh your way
into the profession of
vehicle repossession

because even the punks need
a means of success in this
miracle called being alive

just make sure there isn’t
something godawful in the trunk

and make sure the product labels
are bland, and you can actually see
the blandness without a pair of
special sunglasses

because even the ways of transgress
still slave under some modicum of blandness

nothing is truly original because
mockery has been there,
an alien hiding in the trunk
since the dawn of time

maybe radiation is a better simile
to use because it’s actually been there
since the Big Bang, unlike cars and
their trunks stashed with alien remains

so which way does the
western man go from here?

who knows, but the story can be
written before it’s truly lived out

partial omniscience maybe,
we’re made in the image of god?

if so, which way humankind?

western man seems too limiting
because we ALL have the same DNA
and the same needs on this
blue marble of limitation

maybe flying around in a green,
glowing Chevy Malibu will answer
that question for us

which way will you go, Otto?

the choice is up to you

Reviews

[Jansy]

Kenneth, this poem is like hopping into a glowing green Chevy Malibu and careening through tradition, progress, and chaos all at once. Otto mosh‑repossessing cars is the perfect image for figuring out life when the choices feel absurd, radioactive, and maybe a little alien. This was wild. Brilliant work, mate

[Kenneth The Poet]

Thanks you kindly. Repo Man is one of my favorite films.