Boyce’s Britches
“in Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman
whistles far and wee” from [in Just-] by E. E. Cummings
in just
spring when the world
was luscious lower lance cove
the balloonman
whistling far and wee
with boyce and eddie came
runny-nosed from tiddly winks
to mr. duffet’s store
when the world
was rut time and nanny goats
the queer old balloonman
was there
where wee boys
gathered mischief-minded
round the old
wood stove
when boyce needing stitches
with back to mrs. d
so she wouldn’t see
the big t-e-a-r in his crotch
opened and closed
the flap like a flash
exposing his wee
each time giggling
uncontrollably
it was
snot-nosed spring
with the sod melting
and everything smelly-wonderful
the goat-footed balloonman
had us all in stitches
as he stuck out his tongue
from that wee hole
in boyce’s britches.
