EGYPT / Robert Kicinski

Immortal Robert, Thou Most Clement King, the prophet spake,
You must let my people go, or soon the sky
will rain down frogs incessant, the river flood,
the creatures from the bottom of the river
dredge them up and show their ancient faces
ever before unseen, since dawn of man,
every carven face and creature of stone
shall animate with sudden life and swarm,
your statues step into the street indignant,
all your gargoyles fumble through the sky for their
unpracticed powers of flight these centuries,
and all glass crumple in one strangest hour,
as the dried petals of a dying flower.

NEVER, NEVER, said that Robert in retort,
RAIN THE FROGS INCESSANT, FLOOD THE RIVER,
REIGN THE ANCIENT CREATURES FLY THE GARGOYLES
CRUMPLE ALL THE CITY GAPE THE EARTH
AND SWALLOW IT ALL DOWN TO BOTTOMLESS
BOTTOMLESS NOTHING
and with a single sightless motion
he slew that prophet by a swift death blow,
crying out for the frog rain impatiently.

Robert Kicinski is another descendent of Polish immigrants in South-East Michigan. He lives temporarily in Chicago, but returns often to the Detroit area. He has been published in 3:am Magazine and Outsider Poetry, and his self-published chapbook, The Spring!!!!!!!!!!!! can be found at Quimby’s Bookstores in Chicago and NYC.