Lawrence Hall
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com
Saint Augustine’s Stolen
Apples, My Dead ‘Possum
Saint Augustine reflected on the sins of his youth
The stolen apples especially bothered him
In his life-long penance and his quest for truth
That memory, somehow, was especially grim
As for me I remember a long-ago night
When I flung a dead ‘possum at Miss Cates’ door
I know that such a thing just isn’t right
But she was mean and old (maybe twenty-four)
Saint Augustine’s sins hung about him like weights
And I –
I don’t feel bad about tormenting Miss Cates!
(My friend Gordon and I
found the ‘possum as ripe roadkill, and the deed quickly followed the
inspiration. I did the tossing because Gordon was the getaway driver. Miss
Cates was a brand-new teacher and probably quite nice. I do know that we were
little jerks and that she deserved better. Gordon won the Silver Star in
Viet-Nam, was a good husband and a beloved stepfather, and died in early middle
age.)
