The Tragedy of Albert E


from the ABC set Apple (haiku)

round eyes observing so much life
softly clothed
So slow to talk
drinking of good jewish milk, with Bread

chill wind and spring grass
the sun-orange cat,
his whole nation just centuries from Egypt,
who oft appeared with a likeable jaunt...
and awed the great future man
with the quiet mathematics of mouse stalking

in his Father's study,
with a handful of lessons,
he learned to fish for Stars!

one day
floating around after university
he hooked a Magic Fish...
and, with brute strength,
reeled him aboard.

he should have viciously clubbed the monster...
and taken to the feast
safe to the garden of Epicurus.

But those dread blue lips spoke of Newton and aristotle...
of progress, of Poverty,
and fame,

until with stars in his eyes
the lion-minded fisherman agreed...
and with misgiving,
released the thing upon the land.

decades later
as the ash of Hiroshima
blew out the radio,
he held his Kind and Noble head in his hands.

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