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From A Doctor Pedalled Her Bicycle Over the River Arno, published by Anansi in 2011.
An ill-minted coin, a monocle Chained to a tuxedo, The moon croons to strip-clubs, And late-night burrito Shops, lovers on pedicab tours Of the harbour. Placido Domingo on the stereo with merlot And fettuccine alfredo. A night for werewolves, hairy Men sporting speedos And high heels on the club stroll, “The Streets of Laredo” On ukulele and pennywhistle Down at the lido Where a shot-wrecked Aeneas Meets his new Dido. Virgil, installed in a corner stal Puts pen to graffito: “Tally-ho! Damn the torpedoes! Bandita hearts Bandito!”1 Oh, tragic pyred Queen of Tyre, It’s Fido not Dido That translates as faithful,2 The “Fido”-fido credo On love Dante witnesses mid-canto When Aeneas snubs Dido In the second circle where she’s been unjustly gaoled For her raging—3 Now Freaks, Irregulars, Defects, Oddities, People of the low, low albedo, Let this be your motto: “Love” the word not the weirdo.
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1 Virgil’s friend Dante’s best Fido Was “A Lady Loves Me” author Calvacanti, Guido. 2 “Testicle,” to the Roman tongue, sounded out “orchido.” 3 Spanish Guy Fawkes goes by Fawkes, Guido.