Perfect People

  Perfect People

The parade of perfect
people has begun. Soon, there
will be few faces, traced
with the leavings of acne
scars from youth. Soon,
all teeth will compare
to the white of pasteurized
milk, straightened
past the charm of a gap, or twist.

The parade of perfect people
is growing. Botox tightened
foreheads, devoid of  reaction.
Scalpel tightened throats
swallowing age.

The parade of perfect
people issues from outside
the third world countries—
where HIV isn’t pilled
away by pharmaceutical
achievements and insurance allotments.

Where accomplishment can mean
discovering wood or dung for an evening meal
without walking five miles
                      to discover fuel for a cooking fire.