<p>Old whatshisname<br>
jigs a curly-toed jig<br>
while his victim's head spins<br>
and spins<br>
straw<br>
becomes gold.<br>
It's the same color<br>
as the bulb<br>
behind the lamp shade<br>
on my nightstand.<br>
Good enough for a king<br>
or a child trying to sleep.<br>
And just as I'm nodding off,<br>
old whatshisname<br>
demands a blood sacrifice.<br>
But his victim knows<br>
his secret<br>
and whispers it into his ear.<br>
So old whatshisname<br>
jigs himself in two!<br>
Split right down the middle,<br>
it's the end<br>
of you-know-who.<br>
"Goodnight,"<br>
papa says,<br>
and closes the book.<br>
And his grin<br>
as the light is dimmed<br>
looks just like old whatshisname.</p>2020.10.14