Issue 5, Winter 2008

Dear Pier Soderini,
(Gonfalonier of the Republic of Florence, 1497)
by Kevin McLellan

Magnificent Lord,
I was fixing my hair
in the ATM’s glass

so plumed it was betokened
that he wanted to fight

when a citizen overheard
my conversation:
“yes, bi-lingual education
isn’t tolerated by our State…”

he had not a house of prayer…

“…yes, my beau is illegal…”
In tight 501’s, I adjust myself.

we found him very different
in speech and customs
he desired hostility with us

Lord, this citizen
called me un-American.
Hit with cosh,

not to defend ourselves
but to attack him vigorously

this citizen took
my cash and ran away.

we gave to him to understand
that we had come from heaven

Lord, I can’t avoid
ATM’s
as I can’t bloodletting.

he uses in his sickness
various forms of bloodletting

Even with an HMO
the cocktail is expensive
& the bank will charge
to visit an actual teller.

we had come from heaven
we did not wish to take him
we found him very different