Dinosaur Descendant to be Dad at 111

Appeared in the Press-Citizen on August 19, 2008.

And the paparazzi jump to search their files
for other famous moms and dads,
and to the Angelinas and the Brads
add Henry, paramour of reptiles,
and septuagenarian Mildred, his trophy mate,
who’s still got her looks and a great set of leathery legs.
They stand proudly by their dozen eggs
as millions of tabloid readers salivate
wanting to know about their care and feeding,
Henry’s mysterious past in the New Zealand wild,
whether lizards’ love is doggy-styled,
and whether adoption was an option before their breeding.
But can he be a father? Can he meet their needs?
Children are a blessing, he says. And feeds.

Corny Verse?

Given my recent focus on the Fireside Poets Longfellow and Holmes—and given the time of year here in Iowa, when the corn is rolling in and the huskers are hard at work (at the farmers markets and the ethanol plants)—how could I not post this little gem? It's a stereoview card with an excerpt from fellow Fireside Poet John Greenleaf Whittier's "Song of the Huskers" printed on back, beginning with:

Heap high the farmer's wintry hoard!
Heap high the golden corn!
No richer gift has Autumn poured
From out her lavish horn!

Note the torn paper on the back of the card: no doubt an indication that someone pasted it inside a scrapbook somewhere along the way. Read in connection with the magic lantern slide with Holmes's "Lord of all being, throned afar" on it (see "Projected Verse" below), the Whittier stereoview card is further evidence of a 19th century multi-media poetry that anticipates the radio and digital poetries of the 20th century. Thoughts on this early 3-D poetry?