prickly saint

not once was ever prickly

Judicious Briar Lee

by the court convicted

of petty larceny,

not e’en the theft

of a keepsake fountain pen,

nor e’en accused of any

actionable impropriety.

neither now nor then

has he ever been.

some would hold such a human

a saint midst mortal men—

e’en amongst the born again.

others get entirely angry,

become so awfully raging mad,

because it’s Judicious Briar Lee

who makes them look so bad.