ODES

Goodby Fuck

        GOODBYE FUCK

ONCE THIS DESCRIPTIVE BAD WORD
WAS SELDOM IF EVER HEARD
WE SAVED THIS GREAT CURSE
FOR ANGST AT ITS WORST
SPOKEN UNDER ONE’S BREATH WAS PREFERRED

NOW USED IN CASUAL GREETINGS
AS WELL AS PTA MEETINGS
IT’S BANDIED ABOUT
AND LOST ALL ITS CLOUT
ITS TABOO WAS CERTAINLY FLEETING

I’M NOT REALLY PASSING THE BUCK
I’VE TRIED, BUT RAN OUT OF LUCK
AT FINDING AN UTTERANCE 
WORTHY OF MUTTERANCE 
TO REPLACE THE ONCE TREASURED ‘FUCK’