Joshua-Mozes

My backyard is an Oriental garden, of my own devising though it was brought into being under the auspices of Old Hu, my gardener; the yard slopes upward to the north against a gentle hillside, and the northern end of the garden consists of a three-level terrace of rocks, flowering ivy and bonsai trees of varying size.  Tortoises live there, placidly munching on leaves and berries which Old Hu feeds them.  There is a narrow stairway of stone steps leading up to the terrace, where one can stroll along and visit the tortoises.       The western border of my garden is a long wall of fieldstones, four feet high, with thick mosses growing in cert

She's dancing on the table, Swinging from the chandelier-- I can't believe she'd do all this After drinking just one beer! "Stephie! Behave yourself," I hiss, But all she says is this: "I'm not drunk, I'm just tipsy-- Looshen up an' have some FUN! It's only the shank of the evening-- Waitress, bring another one!" Steph's usually quite reserved-- A shy and blushing lass... But after two Shirley Temples, She's really full of sass! "Stephanie, you have had enough; They're going to throw us out!" But as she hops up on the bar We all can hear her shout: "I'm not drunk, I'm just tipsy-- LADIES AN' GEN'L'MEN, ATTENTION PLEASE! Step right on up a

I sat quietly at my desk until the last of my new students came straggling into the lecture hall to take their seats--the usual two dozen extra-credit scavengers, utterly ignorant as to the precise topic of my course, and only here because of its somewhat arcane title in the course-book:    The Hidden History of Transylvania, 5 credits--Professor H. Catafalque.  I stood up as my class sank into their seats and cleared my throat: "Transylvania was once a mighty Empire which dominated all Europa, and the uncannily long-lived Cauchemar dynasty dominated Transylvania," I began, gazing over my spectacles at their blank faces, most of which sho

There are countless tales of Mermaids Across all the Seven Seas; But the story I must tell will leave you Weak in both your knees... Brae Muldoon was a-fishing one night Way out in Seaton's Bay, The Moon was thin and the mist was thick And all around him was gray; Two hours had passed with nary a bite And his feet were cold as stones-- When a sweet voice from the dark green deep Sent a shudder through his bones: "Are you waiting here to see me?" Crooned the voice, so soft and clear Like a far-off death-knell sounding In the old fisherman's ear; Two pale hands like mother o' pearl Grasped the side of Muldoon's craft, And a he