bohemia is not dead

she is living at her
parents' house in hoboken

she couldn't make manhattan
rent on busking and tips
so she takes the PATH train now

it's demoralizing at twenty-eight but
at least she gets home cooked meals
and free WiFi

living in America at the end of
the millennium was hard enough
without a recession

she thought of going down
to Zuccotti Park but she can't
afford to get arrested and

feels too old and weary for this
revolution

doesn't paint anymore but writes
letters to companies complaining
about their products

sometimes gets a full refund

if only she could get one
on her youth

she makes a profile on OKCupid

spiritually rich artist seeks single
male with own apartment for
casual sex, long-term dating or patronage.

must love slam poetry.

"it's HE-RO"

the boy argued

with disgust

the girl insisted

"it's HER-O"

In the nuclear future, we will evolve into cockroaches.

With Kafka as our prophet, we will scuttle through the endless rubble, and wish we had instead grown wings.