The Proprietor of the Paradise Inn

Tainted goods? My apologies 

But they weren’t always spoiled— 

They went off when 

I caught them in the pantry 

With their pants down, eating 

Rotten apples.

Chef de la Birdbrains

Merde du poulet! My mind 

On ever greater things to create,

In my jardin d'herbes I did not see

 

Under the sage that petite yellow crocus

On my way back to the kitchen— 

Mon Dieu! In my next life, please

 

Bring me back as a chicken. 

 

 

Cypresses in Eden

Because they fail to regenerate when cut back too severely, 

Cypress trees have been associated with the underworld for ages— 

They also bear small round seed cones resembling apples, 

But no one would ever be caught dead trying to eat them. 

Aram Saroyan on Huuklyeand Cinquor's Sucker Fishing in America

BLUREBS

You Did Say Abbott and Costello, Didn't You?

“That person”, that demonstrative impersonal 

Third person singular who’s lost

. 

His identity, why would anybody speak 

Of himself like that? 

. 

In the first place, you might ask 

Who is going to answer? 

. 

In the second—man oh man forget it— 

Here comes the Babe 

. 

Who’s just cleaned the bases and is now

Rounding third, headed for home! 

Common Ground

Muse, I’m at a loss for words— 

Each step I take towards you, 

You take one back—please, 

Don’t be so mean—like everyone else, 

I too wonder what all this artful dodging means. 

Cupid's Arrow, Deflected

You said you were going 

To show me how 

Much you needed me. And me? 

I turned away and missed 

Your point completely.