Those who deny
we are in the capitol
point to all the unused space
between the pavement
and the sky. Where are
the crises of children,
the quarrels of lovers,
the arias of cats in alleyways --
they want to know.
Night is no different
than day in this place.
The smoke has fallen back
into the smokestacks, and these
in turn have fallen to the ground.
The convinced, we know, affirm
the brutal everyplace. This is
the center of static delight,
they say, the ecstasy of rubble.
All the rocks have been thrown.

Beatitudes

Blessed are the peacemakers
for they shall have stones
thrown at them.
Look carefully, the hurlers say,
they're not just rocks --
watch for semi-precious gems,
crystalline formations, fossils
as these missiles pass.
Because life is short
the charlatans are inclined
to dispense mercy just before
they empty your bank account.
We're not bad guys, they insist,
you have the best of us
in our weapons.

Larry Mallory



Larry Mallory's collection of poetry, Ned the Monster, was published by Linear Arts Press in 1997. Retired from Hudson Pier Poets' workshop (co-founder), The Unnamable Poetry Reading (former host) and the New York Quarterly (editorial staff), his poems have appeared in The Astrophysicist's Tango Partner Speaks, Medicinal Purposes, New York Quarterly, The Potomac Review, Salonika, and Split Verse.