The Toad in the Word Garden

Wherein we are transported 26 years back in time to read a review of some books of poetry and in the process come upon Miss Marianne Moore weeding out the image of a toad—together with a host of other likewise lively conceits—as welcome additions to her magical word garden, but I’m with Pinsky and a slew of other poets and critics who think Miss Moore should have left the toad in the poem. But then again, perhaps she was afraid of coming down with warts.

Stumped, Like You

You say you can’t

See the forest for the trees?

It’s clear-cut

As old growth timber,

You dumbass fool—

All them blockheads done

Fucked up the view.

Memorial Service Mantra

Towards the end and at the appointed hour, the priest chants

Methodically and we repeat it mechanically

May the remembrance

Of the dearly 
Departed live forever—

As if we needed any reminding to remind us

Just how dearly departed forever becomes.

Gotta Match?

Issued in 1992, an 18 x 25 cm set of eighteen matchboxes illustrating the fables of Ivan Krylov bought at the Kopanaki open-air market some years back from Pontic Greek immigrants from the former USSR. Yours truly being a pushover for fairy tales and fables, how could I not buy this exquisite little item once I saw it among all the other paraphernalia this family had brought with them to Greece?

 
Fables included are The Broom, The Cat and the Cook, The Cock and the Pearl, The Cuckoo and the Cock, The Dragonfly and the Ant, The Eagle and the Mole, The Elephant and the Pug, The Fox and the Grapes, The Industrious Bear, The Lion and the Fox, The Mirror and the Monkey, The Monkey and the Spectacles, The Quartet, The Raven and the Fox, The Swan, the Pike and the Crayfish, The Swine under the Oak, The Two Dogs, The Wolf and the Stork.
 
 
 

Inscape

Large windows

To let the light in,

No small wonder

We have to see.