Edwin S. Segal Verse-Virtual 2016 October

October 2016

I've been writing poetry since college (late 50s). Fortunately, everything before 1974 has been lost. Since I don't engage in good practices such as setting a time every day to write, I'm often surprised at how much I've accumulated. Some of my published poetry has appeared in Poetica Magazine and Verse-Virtual; a lot is out of print. I'm Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Louisville. Apprentice House Publishing has just agreed to publish, Heritage, my first chapbook.

Supplication

Are you there God? It’s me, Moses.
Tell me something; give me a rule.
I need to pronounce your will; they
don’t listen, regretting choices,
wanting to go back, to be told
what to do. I need commandments.

Sacrifice works wonders, sweet scents,
burning incense, much ritual.
Anointing leaders is also good,
but they tire of the blood and guts.
We don’t have enough sheep and goats
to keep it up for long. We need

something more to hold their interest;
some levitical restrictions,
attention to the poor and weak
all help, but others want their share.
We need basic laws, rules for life.
You must give us commandments, but
not a lot, about ten would do.

We look forward to hearing from you.