Laughing Skull Of Hamlet
Polished white by millions of hands
laughing skull of Hamlet gleams proud
on marble altar in enormous cathedral
of endless halls with shining mirrors
that exaggerate size of human egos
long ago measured by forgotten words.
Watching Angels driving motor cars
laughing skull of Hamlet flashes beams
from glass eyes to illuminate freeways
leading millions of monkeys in gray suits
in circles chasing rainbows of wealth
while Grendel lounges in hidden cave
watching television and drinking beer.
Grinning from bookshelf in large office
laughing skull of Hamlet bleeds red cross
on pure white robe of Christ that hangs
from cross in iron hand of Sir Lancelot
who rides green tank into Holy Crusade
for oil over dunes into Garden of Eden.
Rising from death a thousand times more
laughing skull of Hamlet cracks crystal
of light bulb egg to stream little Cupids
on fluttering wings around humble head
of elegant Galatia who rises from sea shell
feet bathed in swirling soft waves of time
that crack foundations of ancient empires.
Explaining calculation of geometric spirit
laughing skull of Hamlet chews atomic gum
then blows bubble of vast galaxy of stars
that shine in halo over head of Jehovah
whose gleaming eye is source of Big Bang
that flares forth from pumping of her heart
for each planet teeming with organic life
is blood cell swirling in her nebula veins.
Chortling at comic antics of Charlie Chaplin
laughing skull of Hamlet rolls down hill
of Golgotha to crumble at feet of Beowulf
who leads roaring Gyathinians into battle
against Danagans leaping from wood ships
to fight over apple trees full of red ravens
leaving only me standing alive in sea of blood.
Whistling folk tunes heard long ago on radio
laughing skull of Hamlet explains to Madonna
mystery of Melusine who guards water well
because her spine is serpent of eternal soul
who transforms into body of her daughters
and multiply into millions of Angels in jeans
who drive chariot of Ezekiel on Highway Nine.
Pondering philosophy of determination will
laughing skull of Hamlet rests on head
of Napoleon like crown of world power
but falls off and rolls into hands of Nietzsche
who makes it into lamp he carries at night
when he shouts God is dead for we killed
faith in illusions with rational discourse
then monkeys throw bones at spaceships.
Sleeping in hands of Holy Mother Ister
laughing skull of Hamlet gazes at empire
of America from top of One-Eye Pyramid
photographing faces for database of names
that record deeds of every human alive
to plot patterns of experience to create
civilization of respect within law of sword
wielded by Arthur who chooses who to kill.
Cracking at blast of nuclear holocaust fear
laughing skull of Hamlet twirls over land
of free men enslaved by desire for wealth
scattering seeds of apples on parking lots
that crack thin veneer of our civilization
to envelop all we accomplished in roots
of blind nature that swallows huge cities
in jungles of twittering birds and sad hymns.
Following Blake as he climbs Mount Zion
laughing skull of Hamlet bears pure water
of Melusine well to hands of King Oberon
who prances on Stonehenge under clouds
of thunder chanting spells to transform men
into wolves who howl twirling wizard staffs
fighting war for truth against corporate vampires.
Tumbling in fierce wind over nameless heath
laughing skull of Hamlet clatters on stones
at feet of Lear who clutches limp corpse
of Ophelia howling who dares murder girls
because Goddess of Creation lives beyond
control of men with hands clutching at dirt
as we beg for rain to water parched crops.
Shining polished in cathedral of television
laughing skull of Hamlet watches huge drama
of human life swirling without code director
because Shakespeare rides Lion of Athena
shaking spear in hands of Edward de Vere
who guards Fairie Queene from blind assassins
for she rides without crown on road to heaven
where she will reign as Ishtar in White House.
(2005)
