NPD Anthology 2002

Much Ado
by Philip Johnson

the crowd were happy
egged each-other on
to drink and dance
their cackle occaisionally punctuated
by the clash of coupled glass.

like Greeks at a wedding
waiting for the red stained bed sheet
the mark of manhood
in a second’s silence a hand is raised
a face is daubed in blood

(the fox at last is in pieces and at peace)