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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!gummo!whuxlb!pyuxll!eisx!npoiv!npois!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxv!portegys
From: portegys@ihuxv.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.poems
Subject: Ossification
Message-ID: <516@ihuxv.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 14-Aug-83 23:12:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxv.516
Posted: Sun Aug 14 23:12:29 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 15-Aug-83 04:21:38 EDT
Organization: BTL Naperville, Il.
Lines: 26


              Ossification

Children have smooth surfaces, and tough
When younger,
Disputes boil forth
Into bumping matches, with little damage done.
And might is right
And the vanquished glad of it
Because fatigue is the final victor.

So how comes
These porcelain beings
Bristling with lawsuits
Nuclear missiles
And flaying sardonic wit
To be?

No more to touch
Lest spikes be broken off
Triggers triggered.
Eye cannot meet eye
Without mouth spewing forth
A steady song of deadening music.


                  Tom Portegys, BTL IH, ihuxv!portegys