Hidden Enemies

Hidden Enemies

Your enemies will
be of your own household.
Check your closets!

–Tom Riley

Hot Beverage

Hot Beverage

 

 

 

 

 

Today I’ll try a cup of boiling facts

In place of lukewarm coffee or weak tea.

Since it is morning, why should I relax?

Today I’ll try a cup of boiling facts—

Fortification for heroic acts

That enemies don’t really want to see.

Today I’ll try a cup on boiling facts

In place of lukewarm coffee or weak tea.

 

 

 

–Tom Riley

No Army

No Army

 

 

 

 

He didn’t have an army, so he cursed

The enemies that had his ass outnumbered.

The dire fate of the lonely is the worst.

He didn’t have an army – so he cursed!

“I could win – if our viewpoints were reversed!

I could shout – if I were not over-umbered!”

He didn’t have an army – so he cursed

The enemies that had his ass outnumbered.

 

 

–Tom Riley

McAlzheimer’s

McAlzheimer’s

 

 

“How do you know when an Irishman has Alzheimer’s?”

 

“He forgives his enemies.”

 

 

 

 

So it’s dementia, is it, that you’re wishing
on me now, after some 900 years
of merciless oppression? Set me fishing
in the vast pond between my ample ears
and hope that I get skunked? Well, shed your tears
already, for I shall not go that way,
though every day I drink two dozen beers
and a whole quart of Bushmill’s! On display
ever before my narrow eyes, today
and every day, my list of cursed foes
is bright and clear, and why should I betray
that comfort, which has warmed my heart, God knows,
since I was just a tiny lad? Desist!
Better to pray you do not make the list.

 

 

 

 

 

–Tom Riley

 

 

(First published in Light Quarterly.)

Irenic

Irenic

 

 

 

Irenic crap is what you offer me.

I respond with continued opposition.

Why should I greet your damn lies peacefully?

Irenic crap!  Is what you offer me

Worth having?  Is your bogus amity

A step up from your vacuous contrition?

Irenic crap is what you offer me:

I respond with continued opposition.

 

 

 

–Tom Riley

Subtlety

Subtlety

 

 

 

The subtlety of your serene assault

Left all your witless enemies perplexed.

Was it a sly advantage or a fault,

The subtlety of your serene assault?

At no point could the officers cry: “Halt!”

Powerless vigilantes just stood vexed.

The subtlety of your serene assault

Left all your witless enemies perplexed.

 

 

 

–Tom Riley

Meeting

The Meeting

Your enemies are meeting, lad, tonight

To find out how to deal with pesky you.

You needn’t think that they will see the light

And end up doing what they ought to do.

Rather, they’ll screw up with a brand new screw—

A screw that you cannot anticipate.

Their idiocy only they’ll renew—

And, in the realm of foolishness, do great.

Rejoice!  Thus they embrace as certain fate

Their own defeat – which spells your victory.

Everything in them that you love to hate

Destroys itself: a lovely sight to see!

Do not disturb them, lad, as they prepare

The blunder that their fortunes cannot bear.

–Tom Riley