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.