American Dreams

like most American dreams, it only lasts for a moment,

but like all American dreams,

it will be bought and sold, followed by a slick

marketing campaign and mass production,

until it is neatly packaged,

sitting on the shelves of Walmart,

where it will become the next big thing;

for a little while;

Hemingway lived the dream,

now you can tour his house in Key West

for $7.50 per person,

complete with a Sloppy Joe’s souvenir mug,

at Jack London square in Oakland,

the crowds gather to pay twice the going rate,

to eat and drink where Jack did;

or so they say;

on the beaches of Daytona and Myrtle Beach,

the doctors and lawyers pretend to be outlaw, highway killers

for a week, riding their chrome, customized Harleys, wearing their

black boots, sleeveless shirts and leather bandanas,

but their perfect haircuts, well-trimmed beards and money wads

give them away;

dreams in America are big business,

so if you ever find an original one,

grab it up quick,

while you can still afford

to pay the price.

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