even the powder and veneer of the influencer
who is recommending me their affiliated product
even the academic at the lectern
who pauses
to make the words somehow deeper
even the elderly nun on her knees in Plaza Lima
waiting for el papa to bring his calming hands
even the child with the whole universe
in their eyes
because there is a looming
dark matter that twists out our rag cloth intestines
media pressing into us
a dirty knife that dices us up
a system that neatly sorts us into our compartments
and the men who prod at us with their code
then disappear into cigar and velvet smog
smiling with the knowledge
our division is their power
