Madeline Brzeczek
after “March of the Hanged Men” by Monica Youn
Acid-branded neon angels joyously weep tears of oil onto the streets
of Las Vegas
Such devotion to the city of sin should be blasphemous but gods hold no power
over slot machines
In Vegas the greedy the gluttonous the lustful zealots in three-piece suits whose only blessing
is from the House
Mojave-burned ashes of unlucky gamblers are used to extinguish sacred cigarettes
of tourist disciples
As their creed slips from dry lips chanting what happens in Vegas should
stay in Vegas
Lady Luck raises a flaming cocktail to banish debtors from the
casino of Eden
Cast out from the promised strip they wander Death’s valley with their names written in
Nevada’s black book