READING

My father’s primer,

Might have alternating chapters

First from a knight’s

Then from a dragon’s point of view.

Sometimes they’d meet

Just to talk things over.

Who could use such a book?

The princess, I suppose,

Unless she understands them

All too well already.

SAINT OF EXILES

St. Marina, patron of exiles and peasants,
Is irate that Gelasius called her apocryphal
"So what if I was once a sea goddess?
Next to no one worshipped me.
I admit I was eaten by a dragon; but that
Was such a long time ago. I was young and looked
Delicious. It could have happened to anyone."

EXILES, PEASANTS AND A DRAGON

Saint Margaret of Antioch, patron of exiles,

Peasants, the dying and the falsely accused,

Is recognized by her attribute: a dragon,

Either on a leash or draped over her shoulder.

When they are not posing for pictures –

Which they have not done now for years –

The dragon often wanders on his own.

Pope Gelasius called Margaret apocryphal

But it didn't stick. In his cups, the dragon

Insists Gelasius is apocryphal.

He has told Anthony's pig that, sometimes,

He thinks of Margaret as his attribute;

Occasionally he eats one of her peasants.