Published: 10 March 2026

A Killer And A Scholar

He had a spider web tattoo on his elbow,
a holograph of an eye on his lapel,
his complexion was smooth and uneven,
a killer and a scholar, you could tell.

No, you wouldn’t want to make his acquaintance,
become another to fall under his spell,
his sweet breath stinking and hypnotic,
a killer and a scholar, you could tell.

For some men solid homes are made to sell,
some spend their days drinking fine wine,
other men dream to live the stories they tell,
while other men beg before dying.

His hair was black, his head clean shaven,
one eye rose, while the other eye fell.
He was ugly, but still quite appealing,
a killer and a scholar, you could tell.

He kept a little book with a list of names,
each victim his name he would spell,
and when he crossed that name off his list—
another sinner would await him in Hell—

a killer and a scholar, you could tell.

More Poetry:

Pun-aphors

A pigeon flew at me and made me duck.
I was excited by the bow and arrow, but I no longer get that quiver.
I wanted to write an alphabet in a boat, but I floundered at sea.
I got a dog and wanted us to have pet Latin names — he was going to be Canus, but my friend said “You can’t be Sirius.”

Your Evil Eye

Your evil eye
is much more beautiful
than the other one.

Your evil eye

WW#3

WW#3’s on, no one knows it
first one who says so — they’re the one who blows it
satellite views won’t disclose it
eleven o’clock news is on, but somebody sold it

Father and Child in the Water

You’ve taken her further than Mom would,
now, her giggles are sneezes and tears.
I look up from my book, see you splash,
try to scare the voracious horse fly

white cat

white cat appears at the head of the stairs
disappears as footsteps approach
white cat rests on the crest of the wave
skitters away across multiple planes

Northern water, once again

Get in the water.
This fresh lake bears no threat,
close to mother as you could imagine.

First steps seem simple,
but be deliberate. Step
into the lake, into the water, away

Related

Pun-aphors

Pun-aphors

A pigeon flew at me and made me duck.
I was excited by the bow and arrow, but I no longer get that quiver.
I wanted to write an alphabet in a boat, but I floundered at sea.
I got a dog and wanted us to have pet Latin names — he was going to be Canus, but my friend said “You can’t be Sirius.”

read more
WW#3

WW#3

WW#3’s on, no one knows it
first one who says so — they’re the one who blows it
satellite views won’t disclose it
eleven o’clock news is on, but somebody sold it

read more

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