by Ronald Koertge

     Revolutions are not about trifles, but they spring
from trifles.  Aristotle.

Baggy overalls and safari hats that slipped down over our eyes, so
we all looked stupid.

Why couldn’t we be like real safari guides: pants that fit, cool boots, hat at a rakish angle.

When I complained, my fat boss said if I didn’t want the job there was always somebody who did.

So I’m picking up trash around the reptile pavilion.  I see a girl from my school so I say, “Hi” and she stares right through me.

Jeez, if I was actually invisible, I’d kick our tight-fisted boss in the pants and take his watch.

Ghost into the crowd, trip rich kids with money to burn, send the girls who smelled so good running for the exits.

Claim the zoo for me and my friends.  Money from the till, a hundred free ice cream bars, watching the animals we’d

let out of their stinking cages head for the swanky neighborhoods with three cars in every driveway.

by Ronald Koertge

And maybe
you should sit
down for this
because it’s
something
we’ve talked
about a lot
even prayed for
so I’m just now
back from my
poetry workshop
and at last
it’s official.

I’m poignant!

by Larry Goodell

Give me a pot with a little water
to boil my bone.
I’m happy with less than I own.
All I need is one or two molecules of air to breathe.
I have a very humble chest.
I sleep on two threads stretched between
two match sticks.
It doesn’t take much for
a good night’s sleep.
Just bring my wine portion
a couple gallons a day will do it
and I’ll write a haiku for you
or a coan to pee on.

by Larry Goodell

The purpose of religion is to confer Godhead
on lowly humans, make them feel special and blessed.
A religion will do anything to perpetuate itself
and to hell with anything that stands in its way
including Nature.
A religion is extremely selfish and doesn’t like
other religions.  It wants to grow and be more powerful
and blesses man and woman marriages
so they can produce children to grow up and support the religion.
A religion likes beautiful houses for itself
and will not pay any taxes.
A religion uses God as its Commander in Chief
to control its subjects and make them slaves to its commands.