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Brian Rihlmann

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We, The Feeble Minded

Just so you know
we already feel useless
like shriveled acorns dropped
on the sidewalk
even before
you grind us
under your heel
before you scream
at us—

“take root...
and grow already!”

even in rich soil
we’d be stunted
maladapted
growing along the ground
huddled from the wind

it’s a good thing
not too many of us have kids
to fuck up the gene pool, right?

we’re doing you all a favor
by making ourselves extinct
like tribal elders
who walk out into winter storms
as the food supply dwindles

call it compassion
you’re welcome

Brian Rihlmann was born in New Jersey and currently resides in Reno, Nevada. He writes free verse poetry, and has been published in The Blue Nib, The American Journal of Poetry, Cajun Mutt Press, The Rye Whiskey Review, and others. His first poetry collection, “Ordinary Trauma,” (2019) was published by Alien Buddha Press.
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