Tristan Robert Lange
Bald Is the New Beautiful
Look.
Shh.
Look. Hey, look, over there.
Give me those binoculars.
That is one magnificent bird.
Honey, I think that’s a turkey.
It must be a male.
Tall, dark, strong.
I can’t quite tell,
But I think it is pecking—
yes, pecking—
at the ground.
Pecking pancreas-rousing pebbles
No doubt.
Wait,
Shh.
Honey, take these, tell me what do you see?
It’s turning it’s head?
Ooh, great now you can confirm...
What?
It’s ugly?
What do you mean it’s...
It’s looking back at you?
Looks raw,
Bald,
Testicular,
With a protruding pecker—
Oh, you mean the beak—
What?!?
It’s got what in its mouth?
It’s—oh, my dear Lord—
Got an eye ball.
Its blue iris
Dull with death,
Stoically staring.
Yes.
Ehem. Yes, I’ll take that back.
Sorry dear.
That turkey’s a buzzard
Basking in
This day’s death.
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.