Two by Peter C. Venable


After Death:

“From dust we came and dust we’ll be”
The atheists’ mantra—
As worms sing chords
Of jubilee.

The rest: wish immortality
With some jolly Santa,
And hell is for
The devil’s devotees—
But never for good folks
Like you or me.


Family Circus

Savoring
cabernet
by the glass—

Italian
cuisine by
sunset beach—

Emma grabs
and sucks on
her big toe.