The Gospel of Late-Stage Capitalism

& in the beginning, God said

        Get your money up nigga

        You don’t know. If He really said this.

        You have begun blurring. Your knowledge.

Of Holy Word with the knowledge.

        Of Self. You are Adam. No.

        Eve. You don’t even use. The word ‘nig-

        ga.’ Poor-spirit. That’s what God calls you.

Ma said marijuana’s a drug.

        Just like the white ones. She said

        Being green doesn’t make you. Special.

        Makes the head heavy. The spirit poor.

You do not listen. You both Eve

        & Adam. That’s what God meant:

        Bless-ed are the poor. In spirit head

        heavy-coming on high. You. Your Earth-

Dad pronounces ‘poems’: [poi-eems]

        His mouth won’t quite fit. Around

        the Word’s girth. You try to teach him. How

        to wrap his lips ‘round the tip. You look

like a fish. God said take the hook

        out your mouth God said your blood

        worth sum’ God said this poi-eem’s got girth

        God said, said God. See. How He loses

value the more you say: God. Is

        a capitalist. You’re just

        needy. In the beginning, God said

        Put on your robes I made you of silk

        
& on the second day, after Light — Money.