Playing Fetch With GI Joe By Richard LeDue

The machine guns are loaded

because the government failed

to ban them years ago,

and the bullets are ready

to sing of freedom and oppression,

depending who you ask,

while the sanest thing is to hide

behind a bottle of rye on Friday nights,

solving all the world's problems

just well enough for yourself,

before your vomit in the kitchen sink

reminds you you are the problem

sometimes, 

only for those who swear they know

all the answers

to joke about Hitler

being an animal lover, so much so

that he had his dog killed

rather than play fetch with GI Joe,

and even if your hangover helps

you not pick a side,

they'll still find a reason to hate you. 

Richard LeDue he/him) lives in Norway House, Manitoba, Canada. He has been published both online and in print. He is the author of ten books of poetry. His latest book, “Sometimes, It Isn't Much,” was released from Alien Buddha Press in February 2024.