philanthropic PR

A Poem by Sarah Khan

they’ve erected in-fra-stuct-ure
in the form of half-hearted cell towers–

eerily

reminiscent of moai–

in rural burkina faso; bestowed seeds
on haitian and indian farmers
to establish

de-pen-den-cy;
promised to feed
all (those

alive)
with biotechnology; “improving”
agriculture—“improving” lives

cowering behind nomenclature:
asgrow-fontanelle-kruger-dekalb-
lariat-deltapine-roundup-
concentrate
rea

[mon-san-to]

creeps w/multinational propulsion
distorts normalcy; visiting

nature as a brothel; littering
Earth with human entrails.

BARREN

A Poem by Sarah Khan

the world is full of pain

scientists
practicing premeditated acts of chemistry
the meek do not inherit the earth
dying slowly, painfully
at the hands of metastasizing tumors
while the rest of us, sinners
live long in the lap of luxury

there are pockets throughout the universe
where one dollar exchanges at
a lower fixed rate
than other worldly desires

inalienable liberties;
life
and a perpetual pursuit

enduring inequities
less permeable than
a glass ceiling
dow chemical among
other lethal legacies

expectant mothers anticipating
ten little fingers, ten
little toes

the right to bear
offspring