Helmed by pilots
who maybe read the manual,
definitely loved the way 
the hat looked in the mirror 

nearer and nearer the nuclear button we inch
cheeks pinched in at random stupidity
with no desire to suspend our own flesh
over that particular fire

Is this sick feeling jealousy?

Watching those who clearly know no better
pretend otherwise and still succeed?
When they channel the brass 
of someone smarter, 
harder, sharper, more charming?

What do we do 
with alarms that keep ringing these days, 
but hit snooze?