THREE WISE MEN

Their wisdom was finding each other, becoming friends.
Tonight they’re crouched on a beach that’s growing dim
Five thousand feet below the canyon rim,
The river swirling by in turbulence.

On a wild mischance that day while hiking Surprise
Valley, Phil’s pack encountered a cactus that slid
A spine inside embedded and neatly hid
In a sandwich waiting for Phil to gormandize.

Now the trio are closely clustered, Bill
Is pointing his flashlight beam across Bob’s shoulder
And into the gaping jaw of the cactus-holder,
Where Bob with tweezers from Jean 1s relieving Phil,

Whose tongue is extruded to twice its usual length.
Thank God for friends, for skill, for faith and strength!

(131, October 14, 1993)

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