Shell Gas Station

5/2/11

Shell Gas Station

The only sound here

Is the extended belch of the engine

And rubber wheels rolling against cement.

The only smell

Is the reigning stench of gasoline

And burned rubber.

Men with weary eyes, slugging their way

To serve the Machine,

Pouring thick black

Juice into His open mouth.

Water from the wash

Dribbles down the pavement

Like drool.

He comes, He goes;

We only know

That He will be back,

Again, again.

And when the last drop of juice drips away. . .

What have we become?

Humanity,

Who have founded fire and light,

Formed metals and medicine,

Who have defied nature

Again, again –

The apprentice,

Now master.

We have advanced ourselves

Into dependence,

Coming here by the millions

Like pigeons for crumbs

To serve Him.

We have enslaved ourselves to our creation.

He reigns the air,

The skies, the seas, the earth.

He is everywhere and

We know longer know
How to break away.