Poppy

Children of all ages, far and wide, love The Poppy Show.
Government stations air it twice a day.
Six and six.
Large monitors in every public square.
Everything stops so citizens can watch.
And when it is over, they applaud. And cheer.
They make such a show of applauding and cheering.
But not out of compulsion, mind you.
Everyone truly loves The Poppy Show.
They’d watch it more, if they could, but twice a day is all a person can handle.
I’ve seen what three viewings in a day can do.
I’ve seen the asylums.
And cannot unsee the horror.