Roger Aplon

November 8, 1994
After the passage of California's State Proposition 187


Saddlesore & edgy the cops lounge out back
Big John's Diner sipping muddy coffee
sluggin shots of Ancient Age waiting
word from Wilson.

Just up the road in Rainbow
all hell's broke loose
Mykel Mornigstar's pet hawk's been shot,
pruned, gutted, and impaled.

Sign pinned to wing reads: "DEATH TO ALL INVADERS"

The Almanac predicts a brutal winter / squirrels gather the last nuts /
hunters clean their guns /
the Lopez family secretly congregates in their camouflaged van
to cook on an ancient propane stove 

My neighbor cannot sleep.
My neighbor's wife cannot sleep.
Their son's run off to the city.
Their daughter's run off with Miguel.

Up and down the state
they're takin' names
up and down the state
be takin' names.