I asked Diogenes the other day
what is the measure of a real man.
He smiled and said, inquire if you may
about misfortunes of your neighbours, if you can.
...
Churchbells remind me
to this day
of innocence and home.
...
He looked in all his books,
consulted what he'd learned.
No answer, found by crooks.
His head, now crashed and burned
...
It was a sorghum field,
the drought had done its thing,
until the final vital drop
had gone into the atmosphere
...
Two boys, both blond and blue of eye
were playing at the Lorelei.
As foreign ships passed near the cliff
bold flags in morning frost were stiff.
...
There is the family.
A dozen kids and more,
a husband second to
she thinks, a global bet,
...
The fact that you wear a moustache
and float around with much panache
does not make you into the Kaiser
nor would it see you any wiser
...
Dear God, forgive me, Sir I have not only sinned
I've lost my bible, maybe sold it at the sale,
I pray today because the label on these tinned
and Made In Norway small sardines do tell a tale.
...
It matters not, my friend to me just who you are,
a reputation of acclaim preceded you,
like Doktor Faustus wearing robes, a modern Czar,
you make me shiver as I feel the secret dew.
...
For years I wore a beard, it's now turned rodent gray,
the revelation came; a friend who is quite gay
suggested time would show more kindness to the face
and folks would welcome me, back to the human race.
...