If only the sky would crack
the moon open bloody blood blood
and death in a torrent wash over us all
in one sanctifying flood
If only the sun would sear
the earth with a flamy flame flame
and burn us all at once at stake
we kindling of aggregate shame
But the heavens don’t notice at all
the song of the spheres goes mute
as one by one we go into the dark
and Nobody gives a hoot
The light is happy where you are
Surrounding as it does
An object of our Lord’s delight
And–most precious–in His sight
The tender flaw
The light is happy where you are
Whimsy came and whimsy went
For Lent
*
Save me save me down the hole
The Hour presses
Someone spotted
A kiting Soul
Against the brimming darkness
*
Still and be still
Mind I love
While we are able
Still to speak
The light bulb
blows out at the sound
of striking match
and hissing leak
The Bully barks in orange glow
Stuns the weak ones row on row
His politics are of a piece
He burps up sheep and dabs with fleece
The Bubble’s head turns right or left
Depending on the donors’ heft
Her policies perch on a vane
And all her answers, Puddentaine
For the Ballot fair and blank
We rightly have forebears to thank
For this Ballot Hall of Shame
We’ve left only ourselves to blame