A Mild Death
You can’t plague me
with your reassurances
going Pollyanna’s way —
been Mexico City,
Apocalypse here I come,
but found me
a way to quiet the child
whose seen disquieting things —
been to
Santa City
Pollyanna here I come
Have me a little house in New Mexico
got smoke signals up the flue
and its
tequila time too
My lady’s gone to Santa Fe
smoke signal’s up the flue. She’ll
be home soon
to make my stew
Heard C is good,
having barbecue, my
lime pork and beans
Gone to Santa Fe
and she’s on her way
She’s a mild one
with a fever for me,
a smile like a child
Been to Santa City
here she comes
—Douglas Gilbert
Books by Douglas Gilbert