What do we, People of the Book,
think of today's new bibles?
Does one contain a better hook?
No shortages of rivals.
"In the beginning", what a phrase!
But nowadays, passé.
We've traded preaching from the dais
for preaching the cliché
The Bible, truly, I believe
like all good works of fiction
gets signed for sequels, but they leave
one, lacking benediction
You're in the market for a painting?
You cannot beat the one right here!
The Rothkos, they have been maintaining
and even grow... -- don't touch it, dear!
What a sweet child -- as I said, bargain
and best of all, neutral of carbon...
For thirty million or less
the orange DOES go with your dress!
I'll tell you what -- for cash, no sales tax,
shall I have someone write it up?
no, no, dear, this way, that's on top
not that that's any of my beeswax
this masterpiece, one you can flaunt
and hang it any way you want!
Hera, jealous of her Zeus
(as you know, he was quite loose)
troubled many demigods
these though, tend to beat the odds
Heracles -- do note the name
destined to achieve much fame
Hera tried to kill at birth
Zeus's genes, for what it's worth
did protect his little ilk
all she got was some spilled milk
Heracles she failed to slay
thus you have the Milky Way
it's not that I cannot stand kale
I do prefer it over hail
and over blizzards full of snow
and that most awful Netflix show
as I recall, I said to Gail:
this salad is beyond the pale
I'd rather, in the undertow
proceed to go out with the flow
I pleaded, but to no avail
new salad king that all must hail
this lettuce substitute, though faux
will overturn the status quo
well, I for one, will not regale
broccoli -- maybe. Never kale.
A sudden start. I'm on a nearly boundless, moonlit plane.
The grass is swaying, gently bothered by a southern breeze.
The sound of hooves on prairie dust, still beat down by the rain.
I turn to see a night mare, spindly legs and skinny knees.
She motions, snorting, and I jump upon her weathered back,
and she takes off, each leap a mile as fields meld into green.
Soon, heavy clouds obscure the moon and everything turns black.
The night mare's eyes, two glowing embers capturing the scene.
And so we ride, for hours it seems, until the break of light.
What wonders did she take me to I truly couldn't tell.
But I remember, daily, as I get set for the night,
to wish for that same night mare, and to fall under her spell.
Author notes: wc 136
frankly, I have been afraid
to find out how mermaids made
mermaids. Some suggest their nation
through mammalian gestation
(similar to a cetacean)
gives live birth to baby mer
find no fault in this position
but encounter opposition
as you clearly see their scales
quite fishy, their fish tails
so please an answer, or renege
first came the mermaid? or the egg?
gentle lullaby
baby swallows worried cry
all good with the world
the bloom is off the rose, the petals wither
the thorns, though drying, serve to better prick
old age, it surely knows, as birthdays slither
life becomes dying, and the skin less thick
*********************************** *************************
увяла роза, лепестки увяли
шипы, засохнув колятся больней
и старость знает, юбилей замяли
жизнь стала смертью, кожи нет на ней
Author notes: English and Russian image from pinterest
little beetle, wings of chrome
will they serve to get you home?
are there little beetlelets
waiting until mama gets
little beetle, blue and brittle
fly away, carry your tittle
tell them that the scary giant
let you go, and stay defiant
water lily, while you dally
cousin lily of the valley
(of whom I know, you're not too fond)
made designs on this here pond
we all know where this is heading
so you better get to spreading
we came up with this emoji
to recruit for pedagogy
take a look at that bright face
come, help teach the human race
angels walk among us, plenty
often, we have but to look
there's no need to visit any
special temple, special book
and no need to check for wings
notice ordinary things