Donal Mahoney Poems

From shimmering oil
of ebony still

will come flailing of limbs
...

Each morning
I step from the train
and march with the others
...

First a rabbi spoke
then a minister
and then a priest.
Finally an imam.
...

High noon this winter day
and blackbirds fill
the bare branches
...

When I was young and randy,
I went to church every Sunday
to keep my parents happy.
'Almighty God has given us
...

Down the patio walk,
white stones, through the garden,
under the trellis toward me
yellow frock, yellow hair
...

I was out of control, spinning
on the whirligig of youth,
giddy to be caught
in what Kerouac called
...

Mind you, now, my brethren,
the Scriptures never claim

one day all whores will Magdalene
and disbelievers Paul
...

She uncradles the phone with a lyric
for someone who might be calling
if I weren't calling again from work,
...

Sheep are by a goat while
cattle are like swine, prodded, yet
cattle go by hammer while
swine are by the hind leg hung
...