Pig in a Dutch Oven

If you visit the Tower of London

you will see Henry VIII's suit of armor,

and perhaps you will be amazed,

as I was, that a man known for gluttony

in his later years could be stuffed

into that well-polished little suit.

The image of a bloated, late-career Elvis

springs to mind, holding his breath

while his handlers zip him

into the famous bejeweled jump suit.

And like Elvis being ushered to his stool

during the stage blackout, Henry

being lowered onto his horse from a crane

would be funny if it weren't so sad.

Sometimes even the animal best-suited

for survival is conquered by the very

appetite that drives him to success.

Think of Macbeth, Richard Nixon, or

(I'll just go ahead and say it) you and me.

© copyright 2007 David Denny

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Published in Home Planet News

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