AIDS

They cursed Spokane; I laughed.
Don't fuck with the gypsies.
Of course it wouldn't take much.
I know what Power is,
but why work any harder than
you have to.  It's America after
all.  I've read Mark Twain;
I know what good, old-fashioned,
Yankee know-how can do to a brace
of knights.  Funny thing though,
the one spell that worked
sent the bastard back.  To Hell
with all Yankees in America.
Love it or leave it!
I will love it and leave it when
the stupid thing won't come after
me and hunt me down.
One and a half million cases
of AIDS in the country,
who says gypsy curses don't
work?

                   published in For the Love of Death, the early years, 2nd ed., S.I.N., 1993.