Volume > Issue > The Chic and the Dead

The Chic and the Dead

A POEM

By T.J. Kelly | September 1983

Rocks that block the mouths of tombs

Give sermons of great gravity

On the benefits of dumping wombs

To save the giants of the sea.

Procrustes breaks the limbs of Christ

To fit Him in His resting place;

“Fins and tails are underpriced

Big bellies will not save our race.

There is no room on earth for us

Who spoil it for those coming after,

Send babies off without a fuss.”

(To the sound of God’s and whales’ deep laughter.)

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

What Is the Purpose of Poetry?

Poetry was once understood to be an anthropological episteme, a way of knowing, if only through a glass darkly.

Enlightenment

“Browning soon worked out of unbelief to an undogmatic, respectable form of theism.” — confidently…

Faith

Trellised clouds upwards towards

earth’s moon

Set within a night-dome

of…