CASTING

If Paradise Lost was an old movie
Ralph Bellamy would be Adam
The audience would expect
Lucifer and Eve to share
A kiss before the film
Discretely faded out.

IT IS EARLY MORNING, I HAVE HAD NO COFFEE AND BABA YAGA IS ALREADY ON MY CASE

"Your muse is worried," said Baba Yaga,

"Two years almost you've been retired

And you still have not written Paradise Lost."

"Why should I even want to? John Milton beat me to it."

"Dazhe tak, we feel you're growing slack. Even Cardea,

Goddess of door hinges, said so the other day."

"As far as I know, I am Cardea's last worshipper;

If she wants me to write Paradise Lost, tell her

She should, like a proper goddess, come tell me so

In a riddling dream which I can misunderstand

Or disguised as Madonna or Justin Bieber."