Kirby Olson
Tocqueville's Americans
The hairnets of those in white uniform,
stirring gigantic cauldrons of soup,
so that lunch can sustain the warped backs
of laborers in kitchens and baggage claims,
with hot dogs and sauerkraut in broth.
Flies attack the dumpsters out back.
Garbage trucks empty mountains of envelopes
from the back of banks as more trucks
stacked with beef patties and gingerale
try shortcuts around traffic jams.
Cockroaches scurry under refrigerators
as a waiter studies the regime of Empress Irene
and how she blinded her own son in Constantinople
in the year 797, in order to remain Regent:
the crimes legitimated her royalty.
Other work by Kirby Olson