It Ain’t about Christmas

It Ain’t about Christmas

 
“The Raven” ain’t no Christmas narrative.
It is set in the bleak December, though.
Trapped in a world that he cannot forgive,
The Speaker lets his self-destruction grow
By asking questions that he ought to know
Will twist him into shapes of hopelessness.
The Raven’s simple answers, there for show,
Are, as the reader learns, not hard to guess.
Guy wants to hear his dark guest croaking yes.
Instead, it’s “nevermore” and “nevermore.”
Predictably, our man ends up a mess.
The Raven hangs around above the door.
Mournful remembrance, folks: that’s where it’s at.
Ha! Have a Happy New Year after that!

 
–Tom Riley

 

(Illustration by Gustave Doré.)

Out of All the Alternatives

Out of All the Alternatives

 
“Do your worst!” said my foe, undistressed.
(My misgivings I’d briefly confessed.)
Now my aging eyes misted—
But, alas, double-fisted,
I decided my worst would be best.

 
–Tom Riley

Sexy Robot

Sexy Robot

 
You fled into a sexy robot’s arms.
Now you are simply part of the machine.
Enchanted by her artificial charms,
You fled into a sexy robot’s arms.
What beings give consent to truly harms
No one – so don’t decry, dismiss, demean!
You fled into a sexy robot’s arms.
Now you are simply part of the machine.

 
–Tom Riley

Breaking the Curve

Breaking the Curve

 
His giant brain
contained more nonsense than any
normal one could.

 
–Tom Riley

Surging in the Polls

Surging in the Polls

 
Mayor Pete is ascending. A mass
Of adherents support him. High-class,
He is also sincere.
Democrats, it is clear,
Really want to be screwed up the ass.

 
–Tom Riley

Adumbrations of Defeat

Adumbrations of Defeat

 
Knew he’d lose
When the pawn said: “Move
Me! Move me!”

 
–Tom Riley

 

Dreadful Things

Dreadful Things

 
Why are you thinking of such dreadful things?
Imagination ought to be your friend.
Your conversation flaps unsightly wings.
Why are you thinking of such dreadful things?
The images that inner brilliance brings
Ought to work toward a calm and healthy end.
Why are you talking of such dreadful things?
Imagination ought to be your friend.

 
–Tom Riley

Jury of Somebody’s Peers

A Jury of Somebody’s Peers

 

.
Citizenship is not an unmixed blessing.
I do my civic duty with a groan.
A citizen is in these lines confessing
Citizenship is not an unmixed blessing.
At all the downsides I am merely guessing,
But one of them at last is clearly known.
Citizenship is not an unmixed blessing.
I do my civic duty with a groan.

 
–Tom Riley

Diplomatic Corps

Diplomatic Corps

 
Diplomats are agreed: Trump must go!
Because they are the ones in the know,
They must make policy.
President? Hey, who’s he?
He is groupthink’s unspeakable foe.

 
–Tom Riley

 

Happy Campers

Happy Campers

 
Happy campers think Francis is swell.
No, you can’t say they’re under a spell.
What they truly adore
They embrace like a whore.
They’ll be happily camping in Hell.

 
–Tom Riley