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How to Write a Poem in the Time of Swine
By Cesar L. DeLeon
don’t use the word pig
it’s too cute
wilbur was a pig
—he was terrific, radiant, and humble
babe was good
piglet, kind
avoid the word pork
unless talking about food
served with savory sides
—like apple sauce or sweet potatoes
remember, always cook it properly
never eat it raw or bloody
ham is for sandwiches
or radios
you can write about being hamstrung
but that is more about being cut down
which swine will often resort to
in their usual ham-fisted way
at which time the rest of the swine
will want to call it a bad apple
but we all know what that really means
and when the barrel makes excuses
for the rot it houses it’s time
to throw the whole thing out.
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