The American Poetry Review

FIVE PLAGUE OCTETS

Isaiah

The wolf plans to live with the lamb, the leopardto lie with the goat. It’s written in stoneand onion skin. The lion will eat straw,the snake will eat dust. It’s prophesiedin ball point on the palm of your hand.The date has been fixed for the wedding:the guests will gather, and mill, and dispersethere beneath the dimmed marquee.

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