by Julia Griffin For Tam “Kristi Noem wears $50,000 watch in El Salvador prison”—The Washington Post What time is it, Governor Noem?El Salvador’s different from home;It’s six when the sun there has risen:There’s no Daylight Time in that prison; There’s also no privacy there,And no one gets sheets or fresh air;But then, as we know […]
by Julia Griffin “Dolphins welcome NASA astronauts stuck in space back to earth”—NASA TV Welcome, my fellow-humans, gone so long!(So long, in fact, one could have given birth.)Don’t let these cheerful dolphins steer you wrong;There have been certain changes here on earth. Oh, dolphins’ lives are crazy, honestly:They live where they can’t breathe! But understand,To […]
by Julia Griffin For Barbara Lee Smith (After the lyrics of Rouget de Lisle) “Give us back the statue of Liberty!” cried Raphaël Glucksmann, leader of the Place Publique party…addressing ‘Americans who have chosen to go over to the tyrants’ side’”—translated from Le Parisien Allons, enfants de la patrie,It’s time to face the USA!Now they’ve […]
by Julia Griffin “Norfolk woman refuses to hand over 16th-century Italian painting identified as stolen…Barbara De Dozsa’s husband bought Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario in 1973after it was stolen from a museum”—The Guardian Antonio “The Gypsy,” tinker’s son,Venetian painter of indifferent fame,Painted St. Benedict in Naples, came,Apparently, to England, painted oneVirgin and Child in […]
by Julia Griffin “Athena, a probe launched by the Texas-based company Intuitive Machines (IM)last month, touched down about 250 miles from its intended landing sitenear the moon’s south pole on Thursday … showing an ‘incorrect attitude’. …On Friday… IM declared Athena dead.”—The Guardian The Grey-Eyed One, offspring of Zeus’s brain,Goddess and comrade, bounty-giver, guideTo heroes, […]
by Julia Griffin “Two executive orders from Trump address religion directly. One forms a task forceto counter ‘anti-Christian bias’ in the federal government. The other establishesa Faith Office in the White House.”—NPR The split of church and state is disappearing, none too slowly,As Government assumes the obligations of a mission;Faith Offices are certified, presumably, as […]
by Julia Griffin “French far-right leader cancels US speech after ex Trump aide Bannon appeared to make ‘Nazi gesture’”—The Guardian “Elon Musk appears to make back-to-back fascist salutes at inauguration rally”—The Guardian In Democracy’s Last Chance Saloon,They appear to be giving salutes;But none should too swiftly impugnThese seeming saluters as brutes: Though they’re lifting their […]
by Julia Griffin Earth’s poor need USAID?Earth’s richest man does not agree:The agencies have all gone dumb,Which means belt-tightening for some.Pubescent geeks have changed the locks;Now drugs are sitting on the docksIn Port Sudan: you say they’ll rot?Tell one who cares, for DOGE does not.The scientists are muzzled, soThe climate’s fine, for all we’ll know;We’ve […]
by Julia Griffin “Donald Trump Jr accused of killing protected bird in Venice lagoon:Italian politician said a video posted online showed Trump Jr with a ruddy shelduck while on hunting trip”—The Guardian If somebody says to you “Venice,”What image occurs to you first?Pink marble or shadowy menace?Fair Portia or Shylock, accursed?Bellini, or Otway preserving?Du Maurier […]
by Julia Griffin “The official portrait of First Lady Melania Trump was captured on January 21, 2025,in the Yellow Oval Room of the residence by esteemed photographer Régine Mahaux.”—whitehouse.gov Her hair is loose. Her skin is tight.This FLOTUS is our most soignée.She sees the world in black and white:It’s all more elegant this way. This […]
by Julia Griffin “Japan aquarium cheers up lonely sunfish by taping photos of human faces to its tank:Staff had noticed that the sunfish was showing signs of distress after the aquariumwas closed for refurbishment… A day after [the taping] the fish regained its appetiteand looked generally more content, according to the Mainichi Shimbun [newspaper].”—The Guardian […]
by Julia Griffin “The annual No Trousers Tube Ride event has returned in colourful fashion as people strippeddown to their underwear and hopped on the London Underground.”—The Guardian The annual No Trousers Tube RideIs booming as never before!Don’t stand there and blush like a new bride:Just push those bare legs through the door!The suavest, most […]
by Julia Griffin “Michelin-starred sushi restaurateurs the Onodera Group said they had paid207 million yen on Sunday for [a 608 pound] bluefin tuna, roughly the sizeand weight of a motorbike.”—The Guardian “A woman with no man,” we said, “is like … ”The motto seemed forgotten, but this year(Allowing for the upgrade of the bike)We’ve half […]
by Julia Griffin “‘Santa Claus’ sarcophagus believed to be discovered during excavation project…The discovery was made at St. Nicholas Church in the Demre district of Antalya,Turkey, as part of an excavation initiated by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture andTourism. The sarcophagus was found in the church’s two-story annex, which is believedto be the original burial site […]
by Julia Griffin “Vandals Destroy Ebenezer Scrooge’s Fictional Tombstone Featured in a Film Adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol’”—Smithsonian He saved his curtains; not, alas, his grave,Now smashed to pieces. What a shock for him!He’d thought the world embraced him and forgave:He helped the Cratchits, cherished Tiny Tim,Showered charity on all, and turkeys too,Kept Christmas all […]