Canon

Everyone who heard the discharge, turned

deferentially to marvel at the technique of
the canon-gunner who fired once a generation.

“I wish to make a humble contribution,” one woman said to him
with a bold forefinger tap on the shoulder.

He turned

and his white beard wafted magniloquently catching the
languid sun in wisps. 

She lit the fuse artfully,

rounded the shaft and,

with the utmost conviction, sunk

her head nose-ward to the blast.

-JV