SPEAK-EASY FIRE BREATH

SPEAK-EASY FIRE BREATH

(Based loosely on James 3:1-9)

All hail to the marvelous tongue,

On whose words many wars have begun…

      Evil words in time

      Regardless of clime

Can turn a good day into dung.

–

When tongue coordinates with eyes,

The brain is suddenly surprised

      On what the tongue relates

      When an eye fixates

On a personal feature tantalized.

–

What a wonderful flame of desire

Is set off by the tongue’s rapid fire…

      But just say the word

      And love is deferred,

Disappointment can only aspire.

–

And what of the one who must hear

That tongue’s ultimatum so clear…

      Perhaps they will find

      Some false peace of mind

By drowning their sorrows in beer.

–

‘Tween man and woman so keen

The tongue oft turns obscene…

      The object of man

      Is to get what he can,

Even for those who want to live clean.

–

A tongue to the heart is demanding

That much more intimate understanding….

      That for the male is physical

      Which the woman finds quizzical,

And frankly, much more demanding.

–

We come back to the tongue,

That intoxicating, fire-breathing one…

      That if not controlled

      Will its soul be sold

To the master of treachery—Evil One.

—Jonathan Caswell