The Toot of All Evil

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

The angels seldom sing.  Just one small text,

By John alone, says they create a song

Or melody.  The painters were so vexed

About these facts they had to right this wrong.

The artists painted many scenes that show

The angels singing.  Why?  The masters craved

More Mammon.  Cash.  The root of evil, glow

Of lira, got to them and so they caved

To greed.  They made up lies to make more gold.

The Bible texts enumerate their wings,

The wings of angels, but the painters sold

A whimsy since no seraph ever sings.

  Some play on trumpets, but the simple truth?

    It’s false to say they warble.  How uncouth.

~ Phillip Whidden