Conversations With A ‘possum Poem by Clyde King

Last night I talked with a ‘Possum.
He was dining in my garbage can,
One of his favorite stops when he's in town.

His name is Frank and his wife
Is Martha although I've never met her.
He has a favorite garbage can in every
Neighborhood. He likes mine because it's
Usually full of chicken, steak, and
Pork rib bones.

But I was getting fed up with his
Nocturnal noshing, littering
And nattering. Except for that
Bullshit, he's pretty interesting for
A ‘Possum. He loves to read Nietzsche,
Philosophy and Proust.

I asked him not to be such
A nuisance, but he said,
With just the right tone of irony
In his high pitched, nasal
‘Possum way, "Things don't change,
But by and by our wishes
Change."

I told Frank I wished that
He would take his Proustian
Spouting and get the hell
Out of my garbage cans.
Nothing against Proust.

He looked hurt, as only ‘Possums
Can, hissed an unrepeatable oath.
Then as he departed into
The Stygian night, he hurled
This Nietzchian nugget back
At me: "Convictions are more dangerous
Foes than lies! "

I had to agree.