The Dark Ages


The streets are filled with weekday warriors

dressed in grey polyester armor

carrying leather briefcase shields

and bumbershoot swords.


They rush off to slay the dragons of Inflation and Depression

and conquer the Mongol hordes named

Toyota, Minolta and Subaru.


Infant ideas are sacrificed to the oracle called I.B.M.

to learn the enemy's weaknesses

and flaming schemes are catapulted

from Boardroom parapets.


And when the horns of rush hour sound the retreat,

each weary warrior drags home to his private castle

to bind the wounds of success.


Bahira 1984