Lawrence Hall
Mhall46184@aol.com
Dispatches for the Colonial Office
The Toenail Clippers of Damocles
He who would sit upon a throne of power
Reigning his people from the sovereign’s seat
Let him not neglect in a careless hour
To practice good hygiene upon his royal feet
For suspended above him by a horse’s hair
CLIPPERS, which through and under his toenails pass
Thus beneath that weapon hov’ring in the air
He is cautioned not to be a horse’s (posterior)
And so reposing upon his royal couch
Let not the king be heard to whimper “OUCH!”
Several delightful poets on HP have mentioned Damocles recently, so I felt compelled to add a trifle to our shared culture. THE TOENAIL CLIPPERS OF DAMOCLES will, I'm sure, eventually be featured in literary studies at all levels, and DAMOCLES' TOENAIL CLIPPERS DAY will be observed annually in perpetuity.