Up Periscope

Tim was long dead

but Opal had the story

in her diary and kept it

in a safe deposit box

all these years

after World War II.

She would die soon 

and was afraid the kids

might read it so she asked

a neighbor’s son to drive her 

to the bank so she could

read it one more time

before she burned it.

In her diary Opal wrote

that after three months 

in his submarine

Tim got shore leave

and called and told her

he’d be home that night.

She asked him what 

he’d like for dinner.

Although the war

was over, steak

was still scarce.

Pork and chicken

were possible.

Not to worry, Tim said.

Just pull the blinds 

and stand on 

the dining room table

and sway while Tim

sat in the captain’s chair.

She could take her time.

No reason now to rush.

The war was over but 

he’d probably want

a second helping.

Donal Mahoney

Rewrite Man

At newspapers in the Sixties

typewriters reigned and rang.

Computers were a fantasy.

Being a “rewrite man” back then

was a dream job if one enjoyed 

“improving” other people’s copy

rather than writing one's own.

Harry Murphy loved that job.

Harry said “rewrite" let him

adopt thousands of children

rather than give birth to one.

Far less painful, Harry said.

He was the midwife between 

reporters in the field 

who scurried after facts 

and the editor who said 

a story was fit to print.

Reporters phoned in stories

in the age before laptops

and Harry the Bard wrote them.

Harry’s motto was simple:

Even an obituary deserves 

a touch of music, a polka for a Pole,

a reel or jig for an Irishman.

Donal Mahoney

Ancient Paradox Alive Today

After two thousand years 

we still have folks

who blame the Jews

for killing Christ even though

Pilate the Gentile could have 

let him go and kept Barabbas.

This would have meant  

no crucifixion, no resurrection.

Heaven’s gates would still

be closed—perhaps forever,

thus making it impossible 

for anyone to blame the Jews 

for doing what they had to do

for Heaven’s gates to open.

And those who blame the Jews 

would still be waiting for a Savior

the way the Jews await the Messiah

they believe will come.

Donal Mahoney