L MILTON HANKINS

My three-year-old put his hand on his chin
like he was mulling over something troubling
"But, Papa, " he moaned, "I pway wifh these! "
His room was cluttered from wall to wall--
...

What happened to the time of decency?
When our leaders modeled right and good
Faith and moral judgment rightly reigned
And we did for country what we could.
...

If I were the only poet left in the world today
And all the great verses and rhymes of the past
Were suddenly swept away in the awful crush
Of today's destructive and cacophonous voices
...

I cannot anymore say "I do not give a hoot! "
When a policeman pulls over my car,
First thing I say is, "Officer, please don't shoot! "
...

Call it what you will, my friend,
This glowing exhilaration inside my heart
Plucking the pizzicato strings of myself
Exploding, making me feel, oh so, insatiably happy
...