Kenneth Patchen




Death Will Amuse Them

A little girl was given a new toy
That needed no winding and would never run down
As even the best of everything will

And all day she played with it
Following happily over the floor of heaven
Until finally it rolled to the feet of God himself

Who said: “You must give it back now,”
Then he pointed down at two soldiers who were staring up
Hopefully

“You see, it is a very popular toy.”
And He tossed it down to them
Whose eyes would stare up in earnest when they touched it.