Member Poem

A Danger to Self and Others
by Tyree Campbell

The postal clerk eyed
her and the thick manila envelope
suspiciously
Shaking it
"Anything printed, liquid, hazardous---?"

"Don't spill it!" she screamed.

But it was too late.
Tiny silver droplets
rained onto the counter
each splash spreading
like a disease

The clerk covered his nose
and bent to read the droplets

". . . to right of them, cannon to . . ."
". . . ages hence:  two roads diverged . . ."
". . . apples of the Moon, the golden . . ."
". . . I didn't know your eyes . . ."
". . . alone in the grip of a ghost . . ."
". . . are the stuffed men, leaning together . . ."
". . . build me straight, o worthy Master . . ."
". . . never send to know for whom the bell . . ."

The clerk had to
report her, of course
For violation of the
poetry control laws
After they came for her he
poured the contents of the envelope
into the toilet, then
carefully wiped up
every last drop on the counter
to protect the next customer

[Originally published in Star*Line July 2007]