Hi Sue,

I felt this would work better as two poems. The second and stronger of the
two for me would start from "The piranhas are gathering at the buffet",
absolutely brilliant line. In fact both would be stronger for the split.



bw
James





>From: Sue Scalf <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Garden-variety Murder and Mayhem at Tea
>Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2004 07:13:46 EDT
>
>Garden-variety Murder and Mayhem at Tea
>
>
>
>Whether murder or manslaughter,
>the victim does not care,
>being quite dead either way,
>so one, wounded by the deliberate insult
>or what may be the result of ignorance,
>ill-breeding, bleeds just the same,
>although of course somehow to blame.
>Victims always are.
>Motives, whether of malice
>or stupidity, do not mitigate pain.
>The sting of sarcasm,
>the slight turning away,
>the cutting remark-- all these
>serve as well as hunter's bow or sling.
>The piranhas are gathering at the buffet.
>The dagger across the Haviland,
>the blowgun behind the potted palm,
>the poison in petit fours
>are as lethal as the one
>who lifts the ladle at the punch bowl,
>parceling out slander and strawberries.
>Amid the savannas, in the misty  veldt
>of oriental carpets and parquet,
>leopards slink and stretch,
>taking their time.
>Does intent or lack of it
>change anything?
>The dead grimace
>from the grave. Ask them.
>      Another canape? Oh yes, please.
>      Wonderful cheese straws!
>      A family recipe?
>
>Sue Scarf

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