Dreamboat Danny

Who were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo?
Almost burned in Babylon long ago;
saved by divine flame-retardation
according to Daniel, that is.

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a tree
cut down by order of the Archangel
Messenger Service. From this Daniel's sly
oneiromancy predicted self-
fulfilling therianthropy and
the king lived seven years
as a beast of the field.

Belshazzar’s dislike of grafitti
seemed quite justified, when God’s thumb
on the scale found him wanting.
The party over, Darius’ sword fell
on his neck. Swift promotion
for Daniel, though a sticky
patch and pride saw him in
the lion’s den for a time.

Good old Daniel saved Shoshanna’s
blushes when the elders couldn’t tell
their ash from their elm bole.
What a coincidence another angel
standing by to bisect both dirty old men.

Let’s not talk of Daniel’s pipe dreams
fashionably apocalyptic before
their time. Seventy sevens and the like
and more goddamn’ trees.
Let’s just say he did okay
for a jewboy trusty in Babylon.