Domestic Animals
Domestic animals used to sleep in
The kitchen with their human companions
Lodged with the embers and landlord's kids
These pigs and cows and donkeys and chickens
Were tutors to the whole family
Like the whale that swallowed Jonah long ago
The animals ate the wheat straw from the floor
They grunted and bellowed on the honeymoon
And ate the itinerant wasp and flies
Every winter was pretty much the same
Weekends braiding garlic garlands to hang
Against the shrieks of wolves and vampires
Whose whimpers filled the vault of night
Cozy they were though hygiene was a trial
Most towels would not dry a hypocrite
Roar up! Yell and cheer! Pay tribute to
The shepherds that built our world for taxis to
Run hysterically around looking for
A bargain sale on plaster of Paris.
Matthew 27:32
And as they came out,
they found a man of Cyrene,
Simon by name:
him they compelled to bear his cross.
