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Best Poems From
LAURENCE OVERMIRE
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413.
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The Emperor's Old Clothes
Constantine
Fearing
His absolute power threatened
Murdered
His wife and son
Conveniently
With the swipe of an
Outstretched
Finger:
The Christian Emperor
Whose shining example
Struck upon the mind
With the force of a conquering
Visionary
Lorded upon generations of
Wide-eyed children
Unquestioning
Belief in the right of
Divine Earthly
Kings.
(Previously published in The Potomac, Dec 2006)
Laurence Overmire
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414.
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The End Of The Twentieth Century
Jesus walked into the Donut Shop
But of course no one recognized him
Why should they?
He hadnt been seen for quite awhile.
He sat down at the counter
Next to a couple of cops.
The waitress said, You want a donut?
Jesus answered, Have you got mustard seed?
No. Poppy seed.
Its not the same thing.
A cup of coffee?
I dont have any money.
At this point, the cops were getting
Quite annoyed at this foul-smelling
Stranger with the matted hair.
Hey you got no money, you cant
come in here, okay, pal? Move it.
A businessman sneezed as Jesus
Walked past, out the door and
Into the street.
He disappeared of course.
And it will probably be at least
Another century or two before
Anyone ever sees him again.
(Previously published in MiPoesias Magazine, Winter 2004)
Laurence Overmire
Read more: money poems, hair poems, shopping poems
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415.
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The Envelope Please (Oscar Night)
Flash!
Bulb!
Limos leaping, breaching white whales
Waving in blast of briny foam
A sea of paramecia
Doors blow-holed open
Flash! Flash! Flash!
Swath of naked skin
Exposed
Dresses slinking into fissure and crevice
Where mortals dare not go
These are the chosen few
Jewels dangling from occidental lobes
Busts as big as Burbank
Propped so primly for a
Pertinent view
Tuxes pressed on Toms and Jerrys
Bow-tie and wing-tip slick
Black and white no gray matter here
Or question sharp from media drones
To puncture
Airy notions.
No. The ropes hold back the mob.
The masquers of this sacred ball
Come
In divine right
With red carpet laid
To consummate and consecrate
In royal approbation
The progeny of power.
(Previously published in Kookamonga Square, Feb.2003; The Hold, Feb.2004)
Laurence Overmire
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416.
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The Face in the Tube
In order to eat
To keep my kids in clothing
I sell garbage on TV
Oh yes, Ill tell you its the best
That nothing else will do
Ill say anything they want me to
Because they made me what I am
And youll believe me because
You think you know me
You trust the sincerity of my smile
Yes, we all do what they want us to
Pretending were happy doing
What we do
Pretending that we really have no choice
Its just the way it is
And always has to be
No use at all pretending
Otherwise.
(Previously published in The Hold, Aug 2003)
Laurence Overmire
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