"Mrs. Stein," a poem by Bill Dodds. A Stephen Carpenter illustration.
Mrs. Stein asks,
"Interested
in a school visit?"

And the devil is wearing a parka.
--Veronica glanced out the window
and suddenly decided,
"Today's the day!"

You'd think he'd wear contacts.

--After years of simply wishing he were
an Oscar Meyer wiener,
Bob decided to take action.

Smack. Whack. Smack. Whack. Smack...
--"She started it."
"He started it."
"Shut up."
"No, you shut up."
"Now we're even."
"No, now we're even."

 

"Blah blah blah blah blah."

--Wearied by months of travel,
the candidate began kissing flags
 and waving babies.