"Behold the new religion -- Science!"

Before the first brick was laid,
I lived beyond the wood
in a house built of thatch and saplings.
The hides of hairy beasts
warmed my feet and shoulders.
Herbal scented hay held my head
as I slept without regret.
And when the grape consented,
I argued with God
beneath cedar boughs in the summer air.
My wife sang kitchen songs that filled my heart
as her busyness filled my stomach.
My children played simple games
that they will remember,
with immeasurable pleasure,
in the hoary times of their future.
Life was good,
before the first brick was laid.

THE HORSE

Dappled, pink and pucey brown,
he stands a mile or two from town,
grazing, calmly as you please,
on grass between the buckeye trees.

A photograph, or my words dim,
could never render all of him --
one only sees a horse like this
in the reverie of capricious bliss.

No, no description can suffice
for what has come from Paradise
where grass and trees of buckeyes grow,
down the road, a mile or so.

WHEN AGE WAS JUST A NUMBER

Once we were the beauties our wishes now want for:
we were firm and straight and graceful in youth,
our imagination was not limited,
our vision was the wonder of the mystery of truth.

That foolishness was part of it can be accepted --
a fall, or miss, is not a sin,
and when such measures are discarded,
the rest is essence locked within.

When age was just a number, not a goal,
we felt the beauty in the lightness of our soul --
that pleasure now taken, we must give up what we had,
look upon the numbers, and with gratitude, be glad.

AT THE PARTY

As usual, Pride arrived early
and began dancing the two-step
with Frivolity; that is, until Bravado
tapped him on the shoulder. Meanwhile,
Glee and Rudeness danced together all night.
Jubilation bounced from partner to partner
until Jealousy came strolling in.
In the meantime, Fury fumed, Horror abounded
and Taunt became unbearable. Turpitude
prevailed everywhere.
Soon, Gloom descended upon the crowd
as Hostility began arguing with Petulance.
In the parlor, Peace listened carefully
as War laid out his side of the issue.
Destiny agreed with both of them.
Garrulity expounded upon all subjects
until Pestilence put him in his place.
Deceit dared Goodness to put up or shut up,
and Placidity slept quietly in the corner.
Or course, Civility was nowhere to be seen,
though Suspicion had been spotted;
Penury checked his wallet one more time
as Greed nodded knowingly.
Then came the midnight hour and everyone left,
though, surprisingly, Hope lingered for a while.
Shame was the last to leave,
She hummed softly to herself all the way home.

Copyright © 2001 by J. D. Heskin