Series of poems written by Adam DiAngelo, more commonly known as electronic musician fingernail.

Of Mongoloids and Their Kin

the siamese twins
were crawling - arms latched around, one bent at the waist, knees nearly buckled - home from the trough from whence they took supper. her name (as there was only thought enough for half of the pair) was helen. what a gracious
less
reaction to all the officer's efforts!

the simpleton
proved a nuisance
succeeding several minutes'
debate regarding
waxen models of the hand

mostly in the autumn we can see from our windows
cripples milling about the courtyard -
their palsied fingers twisted in knots

the very same mongoloid
has taken a bite!

without a chain
they hurt themselves
unlocked and loosened fingers
and soft little skulls
coming down hard

satchel paige reckon be 'portant
as i'm no one fill what left
up there
with no small detail like the very name
satchel paige

'song of a mongoloid'
for often stairwells prove your end
and your lips wrapping around themselves
and your blossoming stomach is quite your own

tea runs cold on your tongue
and the nectar of life - that is cold as well

on your tongue
oh! all you know and all you do not!

'frederick no.1'
his thumbs and fingers twitch
black unblinking eyes
with that superfluously knuckled digit
frederick parts his lips.
all he has he has earned
all he has he has in a white sock
hanging by white string
around frederick's right wrist

'frederick no.2'
to yearn, find love, boy
some warm, round thing
some cathartic thing
some juicy thing

boy, your balls hang cold
stand back and holler
and do not bang your head
but piss down your leg
makes you look like a man

Philadelphia, 1998
published here with permission