The Plaintiff Pleads - April 2, 1998 at LaLita Java
Channel: Poetry for Cowards
Date: 2022-12-13

The Plaintiff Pleads 

I just killed an eel 
And it wore spandex 
Rubber balls hung like dangly earrings on  
a prepubescent child 
coiled bolas around his dorsal fin. 
He had an extra limb. 
He was eating my salad 
And for that I thank him 
But he left behind the salad bowl 
For me to wash 
And I don’t have that kind of room in my sink. 
Bad enough he swims in my tub 
And leaves the water running  
And his mutant toe cannot type invoices 
But what kind of gift 
Is disrespect for your elders? 
That eel 
Really  
Had 
To 
Die. 

(1998)