EXCUSES

SAINT ANTHONY EXPLAINS WHY HE DID NOT MAKE IT HOME LAST NIGHT

I made a sudden turn down 54^th Street

Because St. Jerome was sitting in a doorway

On 7^th Avenue. There is bad blood between us

And, even after a night of steady drinking,

I was not eager to face Jerome and his lion

With only my pig to back me up. Sometimes,

Though, there are too many saints in this town;

Apollonia was there, arguing with the Baal Shem Tov

While he made gentle shushing noises

And kept a wary eye on those pliers of her

Which she kept waving for emphasis. Siddhartha

Lives a few blocks away; he let me sleep on his couch.