The Laws of the First Kingdom

You warn me against 

offering gifts

tell me that they are

the tells of the poker player

and I look up at the 

fluttering leaves

of the greenwood tree 

and let the corners 

of my mouth turn up

until you can see

my one thousand teeth

tomorrow I will bring you

a beautiful apple

or a pie basted 

in the syrup of wickedness

and I’ll look around the table 

at everyone eating and say,

“They didn’t read 

the memo.”

The first rule

of the first kingdom 

is never eat 

what you are offered

and never accept 

gifts.