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Walter, the Diorama Designer                By         Warren Crane Walter taps out his pipe, Carefully peels off the bloody tissue From his morning shave. Imagines tomorrow’s headline “Bold Exhibit Sets The Record Straight.” Acclaiming his realistic design. Slipping off his bunny slippers, he thinks, “The Spiderman jammies stay.” ‘Cause it’s no sissy scenes for me, boy.” Iced over water hole, ten foot drifts. Starved herd, only one calf left. Wolves circling like diners, Choosing lobsters from a tank. Coyotes pacing on the bluff Drooling for their banquet Of leftover bones. The bleached out skull Is the piece d’ resistance. Just the horns and one eye socket, Exposed through the ice. Perfect! Checking the competition, he glows   Look at that simp Shirley’s entry, Little lambs in lush green fields, wild flowers, Shepherd petting his watchful dog. Damn, my heart’s going to explode. Good thing I left the Spideys on. “And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, the entries For the Bountiful Earth Diorama.” The curtain draws, First Shirley’s fairy tale Oohs, Then Smither’s usual crap Aahs, Now mine. Gasps! Jesus Walter! We’re civilized here.  Warren Crane 2003 ©  Used with permission of the author.