The First Thing I've Written in Years

I suck in Diet Coke like oxygen.
like artificially flavored oxygen
with caramel coloring and
life giving carbonation.
Bubbles.

Bubbles like dragons on
the Nintendo Entertainment System
that have forsaken fire
for the joy of bubbles.
Dragons always blamed
for kidnapping princesses
and devouring brave knights-
while the forgotten peasants
lie smoldering in a field.
Ashes.

Ashes to be spread on my forehead
by the good priest while Jesus
treks in the desert forsaking the
life giving ecstasy of bubbles
bursting from the tab of this can
in my hand.