Spring 2001					The Anthologist


Cliches
		by Jared Beloff

"What is a cliché?"
The boy asked in wonder.

The master replied
Like a creaking door.

"A cliché is a one-
Winged butterfly

Flying with reckless
Abandon, just like

A bat out of Hall."
The door stopped creaking.

Standing in front of 
The wrinkled, splintering wood

Of the great masters
Yawning, cavernous mouth

The boy remained quiet
As if he was waiting

For some giant beetle
To crawl out with a fig

Held Tightly inside
Its brittle blackened teeth

And he turned away muttering,
"I expected something more original."