The Number of Man

So there it was.

Carbon 12 (6 protons, 6 neutrons, 6 electrons)
was the sign of the beast.

We had been looking for a conspiracy,
a gov't plot
to implant microchips in us,
or tattoo bar codes on our hands.

Yet, there it was,
implanted in every cell,
and stamped in every
double-helix tattoo.

Evil was in our genes

a monster
in the labyrinth
of each fingertip,
waiting.

          TEAGUE MCKARNEY