Plum Wine -- Star Black

Lanternfish and Lao-tzu in tuckaway reserves
belong in Genesis with its hard-handed girls.

Foredone theosophers down by the creek
pull up a lanternfish and keep it in the sink.

Soldiers on tender-hooks on the terra firma
couldn't spot a lanternfish from a bridge in Burma.

Outstanding legalese in the highest court
can still miss a lanternfish netted in a tort.

Governors at jump ball, rolling up their sleeves,
omit the lanternfish from the press release.