John, I hate to break it to you, but you're not in Maryann's league in that category.

You're not looking at me from my best angle, Michael.

Congratulations, John and Maryann. I see Maryann's poem online, and it's just a stunner:
http://www.firstthings.com/article/2...s-at-nags-head

Thanks, Jean, for the link and for the kind words. I figured John's excellent poem must be up too, and so it is, so here's the link.

The Scapegoat

Ah, yes, thanks, Maryann. A Whitworthian gem!

A Link to John Whitworth's poem
 

Here's the link:

http://www.firstthings.com/article/2.../the-scapegoat

Enjoy!

I'm delighted by the good poems in the current issue of First Things, esp. by these two.