And Lucifer Saith Unto His Resident Flock

Behold, this creature is on Medicaid, hence
It is not a person: it lives not, seeks not, and
Dreams not upon the waters of the world, no
More vile thing will you encounter in all your

Many long and arduous years wearing the white
Coat; neither soul nor shame reside in its breast,
A worthless commodity infesting the chartered
Satanic whiteness, take heed how it begs puppy-

Like for attention, count not the minutes but the
Seconds when meeting with this parasite, this
Leech contaminate of the evanescing void, this
Slave of the unborn shadow; bestow neither

Compassion, nor dignity, nor privacy upon it,
Neither a he nor a she, it shames the walls of
Capital; mark how the angels of death do turn
Their backs on it in scorn, as the crosses rage

Unchecked beyond the fires of dominion; for the
Creature is a pariah, a leper, a monster from the
Depths of Hell, and must be shunned beyond the
Promontory and the boundless main, banished
Forever from the worldly, fleeting, company of man

David Penner has taught English and ESL within the City University of New York and at Fordham. His articles on politics and health care have appeared in CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, Dr. Linda and KevinMD; while his poetry has been published with Dissident Voice. Also a photographer, he is the author of three books: Faces of Manhattan Island, Faces of The New Economy, and Manhattan Pairs. He can be reached at: 321davidadam@gmail. Read other articles by David.