Tom Savage
“How do you like your blue-eyed boy, Mr. Death?” e.e. cummings
Captain Kydd hid out
In the Thimble Islands.
Ultimately, his string broke
And he was captured
And sent back home
To jolly, very old England
To die, anyway
Which is what we all do
But usually not by execution
Unless we’re very unlucky
Which I guess he was
Although you could say
He brought it on his
Very own self
By his choice of vocation,
Avocation, profession,
Or whatever.
Billy, the Kid
Is another master of mind
Almost altogether
But not quite,
e.e. cummings having
Covered him quite well
If not completely.
What more is there to say
Or dance, Aaron Copland,
With your balletic embrace,
That leaves only a trace
Of someone’s face
In the mind’s eye?
