Barter Ballad-Bobby Calero
Barter Ballad
By Bobby Calero
Aaron Bromide and Kid Collapsible
are trying to talk shop with Argot-Girl.
They offer her a taste of their cure-all
in exchange for a word that’s valuable.
“Well I’m not sure what word’s available.
Wouldn’t you rather have a piece of pearl,
or I could dance the lilt and twirl, or I’ll…
Wait, what’d you do with a word but babble?”
“Well, miss,” answers Aaron, “we’d use that word
to conquer what we could, kill what we can’t.”
Kid Collapsible injects, voice dull, slow:
“But Bromide I’d thought instead of a lord
we’d be saviors; use a different slant.”
“Alright,” says Argot-Girl, “here’s your word: No!”
Copyright C. 2008 Bobby Calero