Dysfunctionland

My serene journey begins
Wisps of spliff-filled smoke
curl across the forced divides --
These membrane-pressured eyes;
bespectacled eyelash-shearers frame
the vast smear-windows of this bus
that cinematically pan outside.

The children blow out cheek-balloons
against the scuttling frames of cars.
Inside the black Os of their mouths
squeeze a pacified anguish out
against the glass whilst
parents shout
icily wipers scrape
the frost in irresolute veins.
And parents lock shoulders again
rigidly staring ahead.

And two workmen protect their ears
against these silent cries;
Muffle-in their compulsive need.
They tend this telephone junction box
and open the great steel magic doors:
No chocolate treat that advent brings

But wires and infinite circuitry
They smile, avoiding one another's eye
Unzip their flies, impassioned streamers free
trapped sparks, cares, and hatred fly.

It is almost firework night.
Parents carefully truss their children up
and swarm fires.
Warm in mitten, huge designer coats
see their little faces glow
and wonderment abound.
See the relief come flow with fears
Parents: It's all worthwhile
Parents, let free the sacrifice --

resentment builds like current flow
around the fire and through their cares.
They hold aloft their young and pray
As gods inspect the half-baked job they made

and nod. "Yes, throw them back in.
Let entropy finish your untackled hate."
Perhaps as screams subside to crackling
These silent faces are free now never to begin.