Three Poems

After Taking a Bath in Religion

`I believe that we stand in much the same relation to the whole of the universe as our canine and feline pets do to the whole of human life'
         William James


Lackadaisical in concentration,
fuse a bit short, he'd admit,
unless it was modified
        by habit's enormous flywheel,
he tasted on his tongue-tip, like peppermints,
not quite religious experience.

Growing up on the long hoof
or transatlantic cabin-sway
he had to keep making up
        his mind, or minds,
from time to metaphysical time
in those very short modules.

He wanted, soon darn didn't,
...