Disorders & Deities

In late 2013, London-based Eyewear Publishing

will publish The Poet’s Search For God. This poem

will be included in that collection.

*                  *                  *

Disorders & Deities                                                                                       

by Tony Peyser

My autistic son who often

Is at a loss himself

Paused while taking a bath

And seemed to cross himself.

Did I misinterpret that

Hand gesture a smidgen

Or has Jeremy somehow found

A way to get religion?

His access to godlike things

Would have certain gaps.

My wife & I don’t attend services

And are devoutly lapsed.

But maybe some bit of belief

Sang to Jeremy like wishes

Perhaps the prestidigitation

Of those loaves into fishes.

The sight of an actual crucifix

Might be a bit too real for him:

He doesn’t drink wine but communion

Wafers might appeal to him.

Maybe this is something I imagined

Maybe it’s a serious phase

Or just proof that autism & the Lord

Work in mysterious ways.

11-Year-Old In Utah Brings Gun To School For “Protection”

Yes, dear reader, it’s come to this.
That is what my hunch is ---

Moms & dads will be packing heat

For kids instead of lunches.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/student-brings-gun-to-school_n_2324143.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=4063105,b=facebook

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Tries To Redefine Himself

A “libertine” (feel free to join

In on this chorus)

Is nothing more than a rapist

With a thesaurus.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/11/dominique-strauss-kahn-settles-with-maid-how-the-case-changed-france.html

MLK Memorial Inscription In DC Will Be Removed

“I was a drum major for justice, peace & righteousness”

Was a line of King’s that deviated

From the actual thing that he said. Critic have complained

It was paraphrased & abbreviated.

It’ll cost 900 grand to fix this --- without my having to do

Even a small amount of reportage

It appears when it comes to monuments that we’re facing

A severe fact-checker shortage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/controversial-king-memorial-inscription-set-to-be-erased-not-replaced/2012/12/11/41f2f8b6-43cc-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_story.html

Bob Hope’s Garage Sale

His old place in Toluca Lake was packed

And filled with all kinds of folks.

I bought an unused Bing Crosby one-liner

And three Joey Heatherton jokes.

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2012/12/traffic_jam_in_toluca_lak.php

Before Pacquiao Fight, Mitt Met The Boxer And Said, “Hi Manny, I Ran For President And Lost”

Gov. Romney, I’m passing along some thoughts

With a rather simple goal so that

You won’t make that mistake again: There isn’t

Anyone who doesn’t know that.

Should you meet Mr. Pacquiao a second time

(Which I bet would be nice)

I know it sounds odd & uncanny but trust me:

“Hi Manny” will suffice.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/boxing/mitt-romney-gets-front-row-seat-manny-pacquiao-031002224--box.html

Nietzsche Rocks!

The famous “What doesn’t kill you

Makes you stronger” quote

Countless young music fans can now

Easily recite by rote.

But most of them are unaware

Friedrich Nietzsche said it

And they would insist a pop

Music queen get the credit.

The line Nietzsche borrowed from Goethe

Was a catchy hook that was vital

On a memorable track for Kelly Clarkson:

The first “American Idol.”

“Stronger” (What Doesn’t Kill You)”

Is a feel-good upbeat blitz ---

The Grammy-nominated song has more

Than 60 million YouTube hits.

Nietzsche was a serious philosopher and

You don’t need much know-how

To guess he’d be humiliated to be linked

With something so lowbrow.

In related news, it’s perhaps appropriate here

To point out it’s not just a rumor

That History (as some have long discussed)

Appears to have a sense of humor.

Songs this successful are often dumbed down

And sweeter than boxes of Pop-Tarts:

Fred, God’s not dead as you said. You are. But:

High five! You topped the pop charts.

Facing The Fiscal Cliff, Republicans Keep Saying No New Taxes For The Most Wealthy

Yeah, they still control the House but lost seats:

The other helpful tenet

Is that they had a shot in the other chamber but

Yet again lost the Senate.

Their plan? Make demands, act like winners and

Hope no one will notice

They’re really just whiners and Mitt Romney was

Not elected POTUS.

They’re so blind, they need canes & guide dogs.

They’re endlessly didactic:

Denial has become their way of life --- it wasn’t

Merely a campaign tactic.