the conspiracy

you want to laugh
when your friend,
who once did hard
time in Jessup, tells
you in all earnestness
that Lincoln
was in on it too.
how the conspiracy
goes back into
the time of the pharaohs.
but you don't laugh
as he tells
you what books to read,
what websites to
visit to bring
you up to date
on who really runs
this world. he looks
from side to side
with his dark eyes
and whispers in
confidence,
this is serious, he
says. this is
no lie. you nod,
and nod some more,
keeping quiet,
wondering what else
he learned in prison.