He Filled MOMA with Dignity

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

One turned away from everything except

True love.  He lived it in his person like

An orchid grows a bloom; would not accept

An R.M.B. or gift.  A hunger strike

Against all greed was on his menu.  He

Refused in decency whatever might

Look slightly like a bribe since it could be

“Construed” . . . . . opposed to flowering love and bite

Us both with poison’s fangs.  He wouldn’t take

A shirt his lover offered to him in

That foreign Carrefour as if a snake

Were hissing at him like a hate filled sin.

  All others wanted money, money, cash

    Or presents.  He reveal them all as trash.

© Phillip Whidden