the dirty little secret

of the universe

is that most

are destined to fail

& all the grit & guile

in the world

will not make things

otherwise

you can gather

all your wishes

into pleasant little piles

but the gods don't subscribe

to your American dream, darling

never did

& never will

& the few who built

their dirty little dreams

on the backs of the many

own the dream machine

on which you keep punching

that big red replay button

again and again