Two Sides

The streets crack open
beneath dissent
spilling
through cracks
it pools
in black-lined eyes
the whirlwind of shouts
is concentrated bliss
before it stretches and splits
cut by the roar of police bikes
toothed tires eager to rip flesh
inches behind
gobbling up freedom
swallowing
the only way
out

across the street
drowning out the war
of metal and skull
the whoomph whoomph of techno music
pumped-up crowds sway
wrapped-up in plastic
addicted
to the acidic tang of hair dye
and sweat
not quite understanding
how simple
is forgetting
they turn their backs
and groove

Black-lined eyes squeeze shut as
they melt beneath batons
the Cycle
runbreatherunbreathe
hearts and feet pounding
in rhythmic rebellion
cut short
then unconscious
cheek to concrete
frantic survival
mirrors
darkening
reality
while

hypnotized
by the waves
of euphoria
crowds of lacquered kids
blind themselves
to daylight
with bass lines
crisscrossed
by synthetic screams
faces stuffed in glossy pages
missing their own reflections
in the glint
of riot shield
paddy-wagon hubcaps
surrender
to warm hallucinations of paradise
the silken folds
of apathy

as time
ticks down
to zero

-Janine Carmona