Language

Language

 

 

He spoke French at the ponderous sky
In response to a thunderous sigh
That he’d heard by sheer chance—
And he took a firm stance.
Who said God preferred German? Not I!

 

 

–Tom Riley

Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue

 

 

“Look! My virtue is easy and quick,
And I share it with you, for you’re sick
In your difficult soul!
Copy me – and be whole
As I am!” Thanks for that! What a prick!

 

 

–Tom Riley

Outnumbered

Outnumbered

 

 

“I’m outnumbered!” “I see that it’s true.”
“They are massing against me on cue!”
“Lad, their mass is a joke.
On their cheers they will choke.
It’s themselves that their team will undo.”

 

 

–Tom Riley

Negativity

Negativity

 

 

Negative stuff I need to say
Makes me get up and talk to you.
Today will be a lousy day.
Negative stuff I need to say
Tends in its weighty way to weigh
On my internal silence too.
Negative stuff I need to say
Makes me get up and talk to you.

 

 

–Tom Riley

There He Was

There He Was

 

 

“Here I am!” he announced. “Have a look!”
We expended the second it took
To examine that sight.
Then we turned – and did right.
By the cover we could judge that book.

 

 

–Tom Riley

Backside Backfire

Backside Backfire

 

 

Oh, I know what you’re up to! I know!
You’ve a monstrous posterior – so
You attempt to impart
That fat-asses are smart.
You have proved just the opposite, though.

 

 

–Tom Riley

Sex Change

Sex Change

 

 

Not only does Obamacare finance

Such things, but now Barack is hot to get

Transgendered personnel – in skirts? in pants? –

Serving our country.  Yea, the tranny set,

After their operations, will be met

On battlefields by fierce and foreign foes!

The alteration we will not regret.

We’ll be well served by soldiers such as those.

They will intimidate in panty hose.

They will inflict defeats in brief black dresses.

And, back at home, if disapproval grows,

They will mop up right-wing domestic messes.

Let’s seize the tranny future while we can!

Maybe that way, Barack can be a man.

 

 

–Tom Riley

Commanding

Commanding

 

 

He commanded the demon to guess.
He commanded the demon — no less.
His command came out hoarse
but was charged with great force.
So the demon guessed no — and then yes.

 

 

–Tom Riley

Our Little Arrangement

Our Little Arrangement

 

 

I shall say things that sound profound
while you nod in a knowing way.
Since facts are dull, since words abound,
I shall say things that sound profound–
and you’ll approve the way they sound.
We can keep this up all damn day.
I shall say things that sound profound
while you nod in a knowing way.

 

 

–Tom Riley

Pugnavit ad Bestias Ephesi

Pugnavit ad Bestias Ephesi

 

 

He struggled with the beasts of Ephesus.
Since he’s a saint, we all assume he won.
But maybe beasts emerge victorious
in their own ways, so that not everyone
can see their march.  The unforgiving Sun
watched all those contests from his lofty place.
His fiery heart rejoiced in what was done.
He was concerned with matter, time, and space.
And what did Paul possess?  The life of grace,
the keen edge of the Deiverbal sword,
and the command to reach race after race
with the news of the Resurrected Lord–
these were his weapons, terrible but strange.
What makes you think he moved the beasts to change?

 

 

–Tom Riley