Only the Name of the Airport Changes
For your safety the maximum magazine size is now
Lifesaver or however many metric ounces in a dozen
Inches of vigilance, no questions please, you must
Opt out of your “accidental” bathroom-camera mugshot
Via fax or Pony Express of a safety-word waiver request
Maze unsolvable except with a feather pen whose chicken
Doesn’t fly but plucks toothpicks and suspicious facial
Moisturizers from some orifice, our stun-gun safety is on
The honor system that officers respond within six weeks
If you dismember your unclearance number Q-Safe-T,
Here’s a hoop through which you have the right to jump
The line when you pay a patriot convenience fee, but once
We play the safety card you’d better pray for cancellation.
Steven D. Schroeder’s first book of poetry is Torched Verse Ends (BlazeVOX [books]). His poems are available or forthcoming from Pleiades, The Journal, Copper Nickel, Sou’wester, and The Collagist. He edits the online poetry journal Anti-, serves as a contributing editor for River Styx, and works as a Certified Professional Résumé Writer.