Tuesday, December 3, 2019

lady carol and the toad


by jeremy witherington



lady carol was walking in the garden
the tulips were withered and sere
the owls were spouting moonshine
because it was that time of year

lady carol was composing a sonnet
her brain was ready to burst
a toad was squatting in her path
because her ancestry was cursed

she passed a hand over her forehead
as she struggled with her thirteenth line
i would sell my soul for a crumpet, she cried
and my body for a glass of wine

the toad was having none of it
he held his ground like an hussar
you will never write a sonnet, he cried
if you do not know who you are

lady carol cried avant! avant!
and fell down in a heap
now beetles and caterpillars curse her
as around her carcass they creep

somewhere dogs and children are playing
on a sunny adriatic shore
but in the gazebo the silverware is silent
because lady carol is no more



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