Children

CHOIRBOY
“Sing praises unto Him, rejoice;”
Shares quarters with a guinea pig
How sweetly the soprano voice
A hamster in a whirligig
Beseeches us; eyes fixed ahead
A snake, a rabbit, and three fish
He passes with slow, measured tread
And, oh, how fervently I wish
In solemn and reflective mien —
That he, just once, would acquiesce
A Botticelli figurine.
To cleaning up the awful mess
What exaltation on his face;
How thoroughly this fetching child
What innocence, what perfect grace;
Has captivated and beguiled
And yet I cannot reconcile
The congregation (all but me);
This cherub coming down the aisle
I see him somewhat differently:
With images I hold; is he
This lamb who fills their hearts
The one whose room appears to be with joy —
An adjunct to the local zoo?
Outside these portals, he’s all