Paul Ilechko
is the author of the chapbooks “Bartok in Winter” (Flutter Press) and “Graph of Life” (Finishing Line Press). His work has appeared in a variety of journals, including Juxtaprose, As It Ought To Be, Cathexis Northwest Press, Thin Air Magazine and Pithead Chapel. He lives with his partner in Lambertville, NJ.
The Buddhists Survey the Slaughterhouse
A composite music of intervals and dreams
of bruises and swallowed words as the rain
lashed the sky outside the window where the Buddha
dozed between drags of his cigarette surrounded by
his golden followers all waiting for their chance to gleam
all mired in regret they watched
the slaughterhouse gates swing open and saw the sadness
of a herd that hobbled inside in single file
treading carefully in each other’s footsteps
carving a line through the excrement of generations
its traces never cleansed by power washing
despite best efforts the hoof prints clear and visible
readable as prediction readable as palmistry
readable as awful premonition readable as the certainty
of death as Buddha slowly burned.