the greatness of man
splitting the atom, cutting the earth
drawing invisible lines in the sand
divided to half-sate thirsts where you can
gunplay nicknamed firefighting.

for thine is the kingdom of blood and iron
destined to chase thy own heaving mass
across earth, scorched and buried
scarred and refit, adapted, rebroken, repurposed, rebuilt
re-rack the 8-balls into these gangs of guilt
for all bastard kind and his wayward, homeless ilk
living in cracks just big enough to tumble through
shaken and sifted, rising and falling into ranks
of galactic fucking arbitration: it's me against you.

you can't retrofit the human race
fingerlessly grinding wheels to make gloves
in a factory somewhere, 
laid off and stood up
worn smooth, skipping lakes
faces left beyond repair.
melted down and run-off
congealing in slack tubs and basement bars
prohibition just gave us bigger guns
harder fists and faster cars
love finds a way
sold in cubic inches
cut from a plaster mould across the border
paid patrol, poured in a mason jar
sad flutes, no witness: windpipes slashed
even then, a mile ain't far.

the greatness of taking when and what you can
splitting the atom, cutting the earth
hark, hear whore angels sing
Live Fast and Spare No Man.