THE SEARCHED SOUL When I consider, pro and con, What things my love is built upon- A curly mouth; a sinewed wrist; A questioning brow; a pretty twist Of words as old and tried as sin; A pointed ear; a cloven chin; Long, tapered limbs; and slanted eyes Not cold nor kind nor darkly wise- When so I ponder, here apart, What shallow boons suffice my heart, What dust-bound trivia capture me, I marvel at my normalcy. --Dorothy Parker (1893-1967)

i can relate, ms dorothy! thanks, john!!

Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals Love is sharper than stones or sticks; Lone as the sea, and deeper blue; Loud in the night as a clock that ticks; Longer-lived than the Wandering Jew. Show me a love was done and through, Tell me a kiss escaped its debt! Son, to your death you'll pay your due- Women and elephants never forget. Ever a man, alas, would mix, Ever a man, heigh-ho, must woo; So he's left in the world-old fix, Thus is furthered the sale of rue. Son, your chances are thin and few- Won't you ponder, before you're set? Shoot if you must, but hold in view Women and elephants never forget. Down from Caesar past Joynson-Hicks Echoes the warning, ever new: Though they're trained to amusing tricks, Gentler, they, than the pigeon's coo, Careful, son, of the curs'ed two- Either one is a dangerous pet; Natural history proves it true- Women and elephants never forget. L'ENVOI Prince, a precept I'd leave for you, Coined in Eden, existing yet: Skirt the parlor, and shun the zoo- Women and elephants never forget.

Guinevere at Her Fireside A nobler king had never breath- I say it now, and said it then. Who weds with such is wed till death And wedded stays in Heaven. Amen. (And oh, the shirts of linen-lawn, And all the armor, tagged and tied, And church on Sundays, dusk and dawn. And bed a thing to kneel beside!) The bravest one stood tall above The rest, and watched me as a light. I heard and heard them talk of love; I'd naught to do but think, at night. The bravest man has littlest brains; That chalky fool from Astolat With all her dying and her pains!- Thank God, I helped him over that. I found him not unfair to see- I like a man with peppered hair! And thus it came about. Ah, me, Tristram was busied otherwhere.... A nobler king had never breath- I say it now, and said it then. Who weds with such is wed till death And wedded stays in Heaven. Amen.