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Living on the Border

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Anonymous:
My aunt and I are drinking coffee
with him in the kitchen
it has been five days
since the jaws of life opened
his daughter's new car

he's been working more hours
than usual in his shop
I can see the line
where his welder's cap
creases his brow  saddness
hides in the shadows under his eyes

I can cry, he says,
not just at night, but any hour
of the morning or afternoon
sometimes
theres no way I can stop

it's not until we're driving home
that my aunt says,
men have come a long way
it's OK now for them to cry
and I say,
Maybe we're the ones
who've travelled enough distance
to let them

Doris Bircham

Anonymous:
AA books and Coors cans -
Fresh starts, forgotten vows.
Everything of yours
Wears the "hard used" brand
Earmarked by neglect.

Through prisms of tears
Somber shadows and fears
I watch you mount
That same old bronc
And I know He'll kill you yet.

Audrey Hankins

Anonymous:
She never shook the stars from their appointed courses
But she loved good men
And she rode good horses.

Margot Liberty

Anonymous:
A shepherd's dog, unskilled in sports,
Picked up acquaintance of all sorts:
Amoung the rest, a fox he knew;
By frequent chat their friendship grew.

Says Renard,'tis a cruel case,
that man should stigmatize our race.
No doubt amoung us, rogues you find,
as amoung dogs, and human kind;
And yet (unknown to me and you)
There may be honest men, and true.
Thus slander tries what'er it can,
To put us on the foot with man.
Let my own actions recommend;
No prejudice can blind a friend:
You know me free from all disguise;
My honor as my life I prize.

By talk like this from all mistrust
The dog was cur'd, and thought him just.

As on a time the Fox held forth
on conscience, honesty, and worth;
Sudden he stopt; and cock'd his ear;
Low dropt his bushy tail with fear.
What's all that clatter on the road?
Bless us, the hunters are abroad!

Hold on, says Dog, we're safe from harm!
'Twas nothing but a false alarm.
At yonder town, 'tis market day;
Some farmer's wife is on the way:
'Tis so, (I know her pye-ball'd mare)
Dame Dobbins, with her poultry - ware.

Renard grew huff.
Says he, This sneer
From you I little thought to hear;
Your meaning in your looks I see.
Pray, what's Dame Dobbins, friend, to me?
Did I e'er make her poltry thinner?
Prove that I own the dame a dinner!

Friend, quoth the Curr, I meant no harm:
Then why so captious? Why so warm?
My words, in common acceptation,
Could never give this provocation.
No lamb (for ought I ever knew)
Maybe more he knows than you.

At this, gall'd Renard winc'd and swore
Such language ne'er was giv'n before.

What's lamb to me? This saucy hint
Shows me, base knave, which way you squint!
If t'other night your master lost
Three lambs; am I to pay the cost?
Your vile reflections would imply
That I'm a Thief! You Dog! You Lye!

Thou Knave, Thou fool, (the Dog reply'd,)
The name is just, take either side;
Thy guilt these applications speak:
Sirrah,'tis conscience makes you squeak.

So saying, on the fox he flies.

The self convicted felon dies.

Anonymous:
Banded by the shrouds of Babylon,
The mirage of nomad liberty
And the imposture on the echelon,
Transfixed at the ebb of humanity.

KB

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