Slavic gods

slavic gods play dominoes
on the battered tables of their lost homeland  
they are destined to eternally lay down the tiles
separate wheat from chaff
turn water into wine
and wine into vinegar

slavic gods breathing their last breaths
are comfortably aware of their inability
to deal with today’s climate
they remember the good old days before Christ
when sausage was cheap yogurt cost 11 cents
televisions could be had on credit and there was total confidence
in the days to come

slavic gods quickly lose their tempers
when someone infringes
on their remaining privileges:
memories of questionable victories
subjugation of women and the humiliation of their men
lines in public toilets
mineral water for hangovers

slavic gods leave their fingerprints
on tonsils as they pull from mouths
gold crowns with bits of food splinters of sunken ships
hopes for a better life memories of losses
fragments of military marches

slavic gods forget about
their unrelenting atheism only in dreams
and start to believe in god’s greater plan
the influence of sun spots and social justice
as they quietly die of happiness

SLAVIC GODS