Burglar Ballad
When Burglar yelled our lie at noon
“No herd will be your gold”
The bank had run the barn a toy
Of wood that Seer foretold.
He dreamed horse with silken chimney
Instructed the quiet poor:
A safe won’t burn— it stands, it calls
“You’re bound to buy much more.”
And then a fever from black corn,
Came Debtor standing tall
Now holding tight a barn owl bought
To imitate that thing’s call.
We’ll never count the curse’s harm
Or ask for fields to plough
The Banker, like the Burglar
When burned forget our vow.
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Michelle Taransky has a chapbook, The Plans Caution, which was just recently published by P-QUEUE press.