'No Charity in the Islands'

No Charity in the Islands

To the drivers of ceaseless elevators,

Nothing is “no sweat.”

They hunt quarks in the coliseum.

They never assume parade rest.

They could stand to croon the hesitation blues.

Not a chance to be shy.

In bathrooms, they replace neon

With high-intensity lamps.

A great fear of being automatic

Bangs at sea-coral brains.

—Paul Marion (c) 2018