Bob Perelman

Sharp Teeth,

Burt J. Kimmelman

Put It Back

Put it back. Put
it back in place.
It has a place
where it belongs—

put it back there.
Put it where it
belongs—which is
not here. That place

is where it must
go (back to). Put
it there (in its
place). Everything

has a place. Here
is not there. There
is where it goes.
So put it there.

Sharper Tongue

Once a nimble nanny goat

ate all the shoots

of a vine

but still the vine

spoke back.

Nibble,

detestable beast,

nibble as close

as your fat teeth

can reach.

My stem

is intact

and will make new

leaves, fruit, and more

than enough wine

to baste you nicely

when you are sacrificed.

—After Leonidas of Tarentum, 3rd Century BCE