jus primae noctis

Whiteness born of a white coat foundling,
The terrified hare cruelly drowned upon the screen,

Thrice unborn of a lackland gloaming,
A song of skullduggery, soon forgot;

Vacant were the eyes that unsheathed the speculum,
Broken were the gods that sighed upon the plain;

A whiteness that bore a hole through all the world,
As merciless armies bled into the night,

Tottering were those undreamt of the fleeting hour –
With Sims presiding, thrice roared the Kraken flames;

Spread-eagled betwixt the Pill and Man,
The crucified mare laid low by the baron,

A naked sparrow left to die on wayward shores –
As the tides receded, a fading angel in the night.

David Penner has taught English and ESL within the City University of New York and at Fordham. His articles on politics and health care have appeared in CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, Dr. Linda and KevinMD; while his poetry has been published with Dissident Voice. Also a photographer, he is the author of three books: Faces of Manhattan Island, Faces of The New Economy, and Manhattan Pairs. He can be reached at: 321davidadam@gmail. Read other articles by David.