as in Rome...

Angels descend on Noah’s Ark

while Curious George gets shot

out of a circus canon. The

man in the yellow hat rescues

him again from disaster.  The

boy’s steel blue eyes, coupled

with an ingenuous smile seem

bent on pursuing salvation on

the edge of a crumbling abyss.

The Christians give him a dollar

and he waits for his turn to

to be thrown to the lions. They

promise the moon but instead

deliver fables and myths that

soothe him briefly. Eight chairs

and a fly on the wall are not

enough to save him from the

hungry beasts sniffing at his heels.

At first the clamor of the

bloodthirsty mob frightens him.

His eyes grow dark, his brow

furrowed. Then he tires of the

noise and lies down, plunging

into deep sleep. Let him have

this peace for now.  Even if he

wakes to more danger his

fitful slumber offers the only

escape he knows.