Terence Degnan
the first law
if we
are going to be
in these bodies
he said
we will need some laws
some laws!
said the other
good! some order for being
in these bodies
who will make sure we keep them
I can
said a third
who will write them
or are we just explorers
asked a fourth
should we study the chimpanzee
the wolf
the fish, the thunderstorm
we should study ourselves
said this first
I would like to stay in these bodies
said the second
for how long
asked the third
I will protect us from leaving them
I will ensure, said the fourth
we will not behave
as the thunderstorm behaves
(without order)
surely we are not as wicked
not as hungry corrected the first
starved, the second chimed in
let us begin
this lawmaking over lunch
said the first
placing more than his share
on his plate
Terence Degnan is the author of Still Something Rattles (Sock Monkey Press, 2016) and The Small Plot Beside the Ventriloquist’s Grave (Sock Monkey Press, 2012). His work has appeared in Prime Number Magazine, The Other Herald, and The OWS Poetry Anthology, as well as in the anthology, My Apocalypse (Sock Monkey Press, 2012). His two spoken word albums, BC (2008) and Calling Shotgun (2010) can be found on iTunes and Spotify.
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