A friend sent this to me several years ago with a note of congratulations when I had my very first essay accepted for publication in a regional anthology.
Variation on a Theme by King David
Praise to you!
Praise to you my snappy love!
Praise you in clean socks on a Queens-bound
train; praise you
for your famous avocado
sandwiches; Praise you from Brooklyn to blasphemy!
I've called the mayor to praise you; & a third-
base coach; even
that no-neck accountant
who doesn't have the decency to nod hello
has agreed to praise you!
Praise you with bongos and fine fancy
tea; praise you
with rhumba, tango & marmalade; praise
you with your knickers at your knees!
I praise you on Flag Day, & on whichever equinox
allows for the balancing of eggs;
I praise you with eggs!
Brown ones & jumbo & Faberge Tiffany blue!
On the white of your wrist I praise you;
on the vacuumed throw rug; I praise you full-
page on Sunday! With faxes
& foxgloves & brushed cotton sheets;
with sky-write & timbrel &
wink! Let every soul
in the Battery Tunnel honk
her horn to praise you!
Praise you with ripe limes & wrestling mats
praise you tax-free with agates and tin foil
& all sparkly things!
Praise you with foggy spectacles and Wisconsin green cheese!
with sky-write & timbrel &
wink! Let every soul
in the Battery Tunnel honk
her horn to praise you!
Praise you with ripe limes & wrestling mats
praise you tax-free with agates and tin foil
& all sparkly things!
Praise you with foggy spectacles and Wisconsin green cheese!
Praise you to the afternoon of orthopedic sneakers;
praise you from poinsettia to piccolo!
Praise you & praise you & praise you!
My love,
from Brooklyn to blasphemy I praise you!
Praise you & praise you & praise you!
My love,
from Brooklyn to blasphemy I praise you!
-- L. B. Thompson
Kaye is the author, and co-photographer with husband Don, of the new photo essay book Carousels of Paris. Kaye and Don are also co-authors/co-photographers of the book My Name is Harley and This is My Story, a photobook written by Harley about his life in the North Carolina mountains, his travels and escapades with his Mom and Dad.
Kaye was a contributor to Blood on the Bayou, the (Anthony award-winning) Bouchercon Anthology 2016, as well as three regional Western North Carolina anthologies: Clothes Lines, Women's Spaces Women's Places, and It's All Relative.
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