The Burning Bush 2, issue five, June 2013
James Chapson The Royals I used to think that the interesting issue was whether we should have a monarchy or not. But now I think that question is rather like, should we have pandas or not? . . . pandas and royal persons alike are expensive to conserve and ill-adapted to any modern environment. But aren’t they interesting? Aren’t they nice to look at? —Hilary Mantel LRB Vol. 35 No. 4 · 21 February 2013
Come quickly, children! Look! It’s feeding time! See how the Royals pace about! That black stuff the keepers are shoveling into the trough? That’s caviar. Watch how the Royals lap it up! There’s a shortage of it now, you know, and when it’s gone the Royals might become extinct—a shame, just when new breeding stock’s been introduced. Enjoy them while you can. Those grizzled old ones won’t be around much longer, and the darling young ones I’m afraid are accident-prone. They’ll never reach the grave demeanor of the old, which is what they’re valued for; otherwise they’re just one more endangered species no one cares about. Oh my! The young ones are at it again! Come along, children; we’ve seen enough.
Jim Chapson was born and raised in Honolulu. He has for many years been living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his work is known only to a small and rapidly dwindling cult. His most recent book of poems is Plotinus Blushed, from Arlen House, 2013.
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