Muse's Advisory, June 17 – Thalia, cont.:

Miriam shoots Yusuf a terrified look
and dashes out
into the swelling crowd herself.
He tries to stop her
but the raucous mob's too thick.
Up runs Muhammad
with a crudely bandaged
hand and head,
a broad grin fattening his beard.
“I did  it, man!”
he cries and slaps his buddy's back.
“This drink's on me, yes? Yes!”

Crestfallen, Yusuf trails him
back into the bar.
The owner nods from the back room:
the barmaid bypasses
the usual Gold Star,
pours Tabor to the brim
for them to toast:
"Another victory! To Palestinians!"
The jubilation's so contagious,
Yusuf half forgets
he's been rejected;
then he shrugs and thinks,
"Let liquor do its job."

No one goes back to work.
The bar fills up, high spirits multiplying.
Every couple minutes
some new messenger bursts in and cries,

"They shot him dead up by the Margaret!"

"He's gotten clean away! The mishteret
have given up!"

"The cops were just about to nab the Greek,
when this half-naked henchman
sprang right out of nowhere with a club
and knocked the Jew swine off their feet!"

Back to the Gold Star, unfortunately.
Then no more wine at all,
as Yusuf and Muhammad's wallets
both grow bare of sheqalim.

The euphoria tatters,
and night, so ignorant of victories,
undresses just as quietly as ever.

this is a splendid story. i really love the imagery and poetry. the word "undress", undressed my soul finally. thanx for lovely write.

yeah, this is a winner.
last stanza is killer,
absolutely killer.

tiko

Thank you, Rothith and Tiko. S good to get such a clean bill of health on this one! Tom

to picks; i plan on drinking
and don't want to forget to
move it.

tiko

Thanks, Tiko! Happy drinking! Tom

Great brew, Tom.

Cheers Tiko.

milner

Thanks, Milner.
And happy Divorce-From-Those-Pain-in-the-Neck-colonies Weekend!
Tom

Terrific. Especially the last three lines.

Pam

Pam, thank you for looking in and reporting back! I'm glad you enjoyed. Tom

glad to select this.
congrats, Tom.

tiko

Tiko, thank you! What a great surprise! Tom

_{Congratulations, Tom. Well done my friend, well done.}



.

Lovin' this on the front page!

Very cool Tom. Enjoying this.

Hey, thank you all!

Really liked this one, Tom, so much going on with a purpose.  LOVE the last verse.  It's a beauty.

Cheryl, thank you. Tom

`

dear Tom

a strong imposing title that ricochets throughout.

a most interesting feature of a Featured Work.


& a well placed posturing by Tiko

front page congrats to your both.

silent lotus
~

SL, thank you. Tom