Should I Tell the Bishop?

Freeverse

Am I to grab this nasty neighbour

by the scruff of his scruffy neck,

shove his head against that lovely hard wall

between our apartments,

and hear a delightful crack?

He is not as gracious 

as my friend the bishop.

And so I laugh so much

when I think about it,

loving the nasty neighbour

as much as I do not. 

Is it not more fitting to think

of my friend the bishop?

So should these lurking shadows,

whispers that seem venomous,

become light that is a pure beacon,

instead of crushing hope?

Hmm, this is something

that I try not to talk about

as I sit and sip tea with forbearance

and patience.

I face with feeling that calm card

sent to me by my friend the bishop.

(24 Jul 2025)

Reviews

[Neha agrawal]

The line “I laugh so much when I think about it” carries both menace and grace. Quietly explosive and unforgettable.

[Andrew John]

Thank you, Neha.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Nice to have someone to think of to calm us down in situations when we feel the urge to be totally out of character and do something stupid or violent.
Thomas Wolf's story "Child by Tiger" is about a man who could not contain his dark side...and chaos ensued.

I really like the balance in this poem.
j.

[Andrew John]

Thank you so much, Jacob.