Donal Mahoney- Three Poems

 

In the Desert of Iraq

It took awhile to find Osama.

It will take awhile to find

the Briton with his knife

in the desert of Iraq.

They may bring him back 

unless a verdict’s rendered

in the desert 

enabling the Briton

to discover in a second

all the virgins 

awaiting his arrival

unless he finds 

he’s sitting with Osama

holding marshmallows 

blackened on a stick.

An Atheist on Sunday

 

On Sunday his wife 

and children walk 

to Mass

and he goes 

into his garden

to work

all day

primping roses

lilies, dahlias 

weeding, pruning

making things right

on his altar of life.

At dusk he brings 

his heaven home 

in soiled hands.

A big bouquet  

for a wife

suddenly in tears.

Pastor Homer Toots His Horn

Pastor Homer is a jealous man

and Opal gives him fits

through 40 years of marriage

dancing, laughing

kissing other men

on New Year’s Eve  

when midnight strikes.

And every year when Opal 

kisses other men 

Pastor Homer in his party hat

toots his party horn

and hollers from his wheelchair,

“If Judas had a sister, 

Opal, you'd be it.”

Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri.