Shelf life reduction

Shelf life reduction

A few ounces

Freeze-dried

Dehydrated

Devoid of lifeblood

The residue

Leaving a shallow tide mark

Of little value

An unremarkable stain

On the character

Of opportunity

Cast into the flame

A scattering of dust

Dispersed,

Of little consequence

There is no compliance

In rehydration

No reciprocity

In reformation

Whatever the force

The application is denied

There is no elasticity

No return

Of backbone

Or reamalgamation

Of compounds

The constituent parts

Are not retained

In working order

With no synthetic

Material affecting

Any change

There is no transfusion

To bolster the illusion

Of life

All that remains

Is parochial

Retinal art

Crushed to dust

No disguise

Or element of surprise

In its cold occlusion

But a confusion

Of Duchamp’s urinal

With all the clutter

Flushed away

Into the gutter.