Briseis Reappears – Deus Ex Machina
A Work in Progress
106
Donal opened it up and there she was on screen
password in hand, Briseis, speaking from his laptop
his hearing aids bluetoothed to a device elsewhere
he fumbled for connection while she unbuttoned her blouse
to show off a t-shirt emblazoned to arouse
“Resist” her t-shirt said
“Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité”
Then he heard her voice
“No need to connect I’ve hacked your Bluetooth
I’ve upgraded your Phonaks
They’ll always switch to my voice when I’m calling
I’m in Minneapolis
It’s time to sweep the city clean
bring leaf blowers bring snow blowers
shoulder to shoulder we’ll sweep the streets clean
we’ll advance against pepper spray blow it right back
if they shoot at us, we’re armed with a right to fight back
we’re a free people we’ve sworn an oath
we’ll sweep the streets clean
it’s time to de-ice”
Dick Russell © Richard M Russell
2026
