Behold I bring you tidings of great joy-
especially now that the snow & gale are still-
for Henry is delivered.
Not only is he delivered from the gale
but he has a little one. He’s out of jail
also. It is a boy.
Henry’s pleasure in this unusual event
reminds me of the extra told at Hollywood & Vine
that TV cameras
were focused on him personally then & there
and ‘Just a few words . . . Is it what you meant?
Was there a genuine sign?’
Couvade was always Henry’s favourite custom,
better than the bride biting off the penises, pal,
remember? All the brothers
marrying her in turn & dying mutilated
until the youngest put in instead a crowbar, pal,
and pulled out not only her teeth but also his brothers’ dongs & no
doubt others’.
(John Berryman)
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Based on Topics: Snow Poems, Brothers Poems, Sign & Symbol Poems, Doubt & Skepticism Poems, Movies Poems, Custom & Convention Poems, Performance Arts PoemsBased on Keywords: cameras, crowbar, dongs, penises, couvade