Page 190 - Stories Eng & Span

Story 130

Pierce

The swordsman was fierce, with an excellent tierce.

Any offense to him, even the merest, intended or not, had

his opponents always in tears, shaken by fears, knowing

likely he would slash off their ears.

And after each duel, the cruel Pierce, was wont to

celebrate, imbibing wine straight from a tierce.

Tierce: a parry stroke as well as a cask or keg. Change: merest to merest.

Story 131

As His Number Neared

As his draft number neared the more cowardly he appeared. His eyes

continuously teared, so much they be-soaked his beard. He feared,

that for war he could never conscientiously be geared.

Friends warned him that if he fled to

Canada, his good name would be

smeared, and that people would say he

is a little bit weird. Nevertheless, with

vision bleared, he deserted until the

smoke in Viet Nam cleared.