Some Lessons
of Colonialism
brad rose
Since my DNA exoneration, they’ve named an
insect after me: Travesty of Justice. At first, I
thought I was wearing someone else’s clothes, then
I realized I was wearing my semi-boneless clothes,
so I cast myself in the leading role. People love a
spectacle. I took it pass/fail.
During death, the slow days pass quickly and vice
versa. If you weep while you’re dead, your tears
will be invisible, although they may sound like
the feel-good song of the year. Florene said that’s
not funny. I told her, I’m a humorist, not a co-
median. She insisted genuine pollinators prefer
hotter flowers. We broke up via time-machine text
message. Life may be full of sonic booms, but we’ll
have our memories to look forward to.
What are the odds of a favorable autopsy? Before
Cortez conquered the Aztecs, he torched his galle-
ons to prevent his crew from returning home, thus
padlocking the Spaniards to their fate of plunder
and murder. The perverse flames rose like a prayer
above the dwindling ships, and reached toward
the indifferent heavens. No time to waste, Cortez
thought, but Montezuma knew better: the dead
burn quicker than candles.
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