Poem 78

 Poem 78

(for July 31, 2021)

 

Pious readings spoil things.

 

This summer  afternoon

a dry sweat walks down and up my back,

pondering  catholic isolation, so as to be

an Irish bull to remind

somebody to remember

that some Popes give birth to bulls.

 

On bloody sidewalks

the young dance the blue bottom;

the old dance tears to confirm

fear blooms forever.

 

In the hot heart of holy cost

do kinfolk say

mi culpa

mi culpa

mi grave falta

to imitate a more ancient, god-stricken  noise:

mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa?

 

Beware of the languages

that imprison life.

Until you die, if you should live so long,

an iron cage shall be a halo

of your debatable sanctity.

Your poverty, of course, is beyond dispute,

as you linger in cupidity.

 

In the fruition of elderhood,

blame not your kin;

you have a monopoly on flaws.

 

On bloody sidewalks

the young dance the blue bottom;

the old dance tears to confirm

fear blooms forever.

 

Jerry W. Ward, Jr.            June 9, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Poem 78

(for July 31, 2021)

 

Pious readings spoil things.

 

This summer  afternoon

a dry sweat walks down and up my back,

pondering  catholic isolation, so as to be

an Irish bull to remind

somebody to remember

that some Popes give birth to bulls.

 

On bloody sidewalks

the young dance the blue bottom;

the old dance tears to confirm

fear blooms forever.

 

In the hot heart of holy cost

do kinfolk say

mi culpa

mi culpa

mi grave falta

to imitate a more ancient, god-stricken  noise:

mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa?

 

Beware of the languages

that imprison life.

Until you die, if you should live so long,

an iron cage shall be a halo

of your debatable sanctity.

Your poverty, of course, is beyond dispute,

as you linger in cupidity.

 

In the fruition of elderhood,

blame not your kin;

you have a monopoly on flaws.

 

On bloody sidewalks

the young dance the blue bottom;

the old dance tears to confirm

fear blooms forever.

 

Jerry W. Ward, Jr.            June 9, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

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