The credits rolled
on a predictable “happily ever after” note.
Bambi, triumphant, stood with his dad,
seven dwarfs chased the Evil Queen
off the mountain’s ledge
and a generation of kids
were tucked into a million little racecar beds.
A generation adrift in dreams,
snoozed through their fairytales
flattened by the collapsed walls
of a caved-in 20th century,
AWOKE to mounting debts.
AWOKE on sidewalks.
AWOKE to the reality
that this movie was never Disney,
but just a handful of happy little scenes
in a bizarre film by Fellini.
ACTION!
Caught in a rifle’s scope,
Bambi and Faline are butchered in a human home.
A divorced drunk,
sleeping Snow White is sneakily felt up
by the dwarfs
she so dearly trusts.
And the film—
rolls—
on.
Poet’s Bio: Born and raised in Los Angeles, Michael Roque began writing poetry and prose while studying at Pasadena City College. He has been based in Tel Aviv since 2013. He is the author of Writing to a Raid Siren (Pomegranate Press). His work has appeared in literary journals including North Dakota Quarterly, The Queen’s Review, The Roanoke Rambler, Poetry Super Highway, and BlazeVOX.