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Bigger And Lower Before The Bull was partly painted out, Its balls were bigger, dangling lower down— Genteel Dutch folk were bashful, then, about Gigantic orbs on pictures hung in town Establishments. Conservators, who are Restoring this iconic painting (by A Dutchman) with their modern repertoire, Not only, using X-rays, verify Dimensions, but can also resurrect, Like new, the glories last seen long ago On Potter's Bull and give it more respect, With all of its endowment still on show ... Except, they don't—in art, Dutch bourgeoisie Remain as bashful as they used to be! (First published in the Spring-Summer 2026 issue of Rat's Ass Review. Story here) |
Veronika The Cow Veronika the cow can wield a broom, Enabling her to scratch her back and breast, Relieving itch. This Austrian, for whom Old age brings fame, is now the manifest New poster-girl for multi-purpose tools In use by livestock, widely thought to lack Keen intellect. But what if they aren't fools And, copying Veronika, attack The status quo with brooms held high—if smart Hoofed animals refuse to constitute Earth's humans' prime rib roast supply and start Campaigns to claim their basic right, pursuit Of happiness? ... Will humans have a beef With Austria's tool-user-cow-in-chief? (First published in the March 2026 issue of Lighten Up Online. Story here) |
Austin Appelbee A teenage Ozzie, Austin Appelbee, Unfazed by having failed his swimming test, Swam bravely for four hours across a sea That grew more stormy as the day progressed. Intent on rescuing his nearest kin, Not giving in to weariness, this lad Approached an empty beach as night drew in, Propelled by hopeful thoughts alone—he had Partaken of no food or drink, and was Exhausted, yet he had to soldier on, Lest help not reach his kin, adrift from Oz, Before too late ... His ultramarathon Enjoyed success—except for judges, who Erred badly failing one who swam so true! (First published in the Summer 2026 issue of WestWard Quarterly. Story here) |
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A False Identity An octopus was in the record book For having been the oldest in its long Ancestral pedigree. But what you look Like isn't what you were. The book was wrong: Strange blobs are hard to tell apart when they've Endured three hundred million years below Immense dead weight of rock above their grave. Dentition outs a record that is faux: Exceeding nine in dental number thus Negates the fossil's octopoidal claim To fame—it was instead a nautilus, Inside a false identity ... To name The fossil specimen you found beneath Your ancient rocks correctly, count its teeth! (First published on 4th May, 2026 in Oddball Magazine. Story here) |
Perfect Harmony Pianos' ebonies and ivories, Entwined in perfect harmony of hue, Resound on keyboards: thirty-six black keys Fit next to fifty-two in white—when new. Euphonic sound results, and since you hear Chords tinkle, Number One's a way to term This black-white synergy. It has a peer: How Congo Basin's native pachyderm Assiduously gobbles forest fruits— Replanting ebony to save the tree Musicians use for fretboards—constitutes One other synergy where ebony Needs ivory. And since it works through poo, You'd term this synergy a Number Two! (First published on 1st June, 2026 in Oddball Magazine. Story here) |
Serena Williams Some four years back, Serena W Evolved away from tennis but declined Retirement from it—making sure we knew, Extending her career was on her mind. Now forty-four, the undisputed queen Appears at Queen's: she's set to play a match With Canada's most energetic teen In place to chase balls older legs won't catch ... Low forties are when singles slams elude Lawn-tennis stars who still win doubles. Yet If, two slams short, Serena feels renewed And forty's her new thirty, who will bet Ms Court and Mr Djokovic still beat Serena's singles-slam count, when complete? (First published in the New Verse News on 7th June, 2026. Story here) |