Drinking Minotaur with Reclining Woman by Pablo Picasso

Ode to Nature
by JOHN YATES

lost in the wilderness
lost in the mall
lost in jc pennys
up against the wall

natural cosmetics
paint natural faces
colored naturally
with god's own
perfect graces of

new moon eyeliner
and ruby red lips

oh for the beauty
of a dark flower in
virgin polyester,
blooming radiantly
on tanning booth
body, shining soul
of permanent wave

all natural flavors
of orange julius
slide down throats,
a natural high

to wash down
all organic pizza
on biodegradable
plastic plates

natural man,
natural woman,
natural beasts
howl and wail
in deepest, darkest
cybersex jungle
wrapped in condoms
sheathed in cellophane

lost in wilderness
lost in mall
blessed be
the worms
who in the end
will get it all