Page 19 - Contrast1991Fall

THE FORGOTTEN TRAVELLER IN THE CANTERBURY TALES

Alsoamong the Canterbury cohorts
Was a noble terrorist of sorts.
He was a hateful, belligerent man,
An unfitting addition to the clan.
His face was dark, with a protruding nose.
This man was Iraqi I suppose.
He had a grizzled beard and black moustache
'\ Which was partially concealed by a scarlet sash.
Across the left cheek was a deep, long scar
The result of a brawl in a Palestinian bar.
He wore a gray, shark-skin suit
Which he had bought half-price in Beirut.
He brought the gun he stole as a boy
(Henever had much in the way of toys).
It came complete with plenty of clips
(Healways brought extras on long trips).
His manner was unlike the gentle knight
Rather, he fought his battles out of spite.
He was neither polite nor benign
And treated us all like common swine.
As for his intelligence I would wager
That he was not a political science major.
Yet, he was well-versed in Mother Goose
And quite familiar with Doctor Seuss.
He told of many a dull endeavor,
But through it all not one dared ever
Shut him up for fear of the rifle.
So we put up with every trifle.
He was a talkative fellow all the same.
In truth, I cannot pronounce his name.

-Edward S. Kurz III

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