La Maldicion

If Shakespeare put a woman into words,
would she resemble comedy, tragedy or sonnets?
Would he hide them in bodice or bonnets?

If William Carlos Williams put Elsie into words,
would he use the variable foot
or concentrate on her thighs, neglect the boot?

If Edgar Allan Poe manhandled his young bride,
would all the pieces be there at dawn,
except, of course, the hymen would be gone?

If you listen to Rod McKuen’s girlfriend
you’d think that broken hearts are great
choreographed to defoliate each mate.

But, if you hear the old Chicano poets calling,
don’t turn your back on them you sons-of-bitches
you weren’t even semen when they were digging ditches!