The Joy of Post

for a friend and an aunt, respectively

American stamps are a treat.

This year's ones are Janis Joplin,
blue-skinned and purple-lensed,
a woman in alien form,

two pumpkin-headed silhouettes
in a Gothic window,
playful Autumn spooks,

Disney's Gaston
lain out like Ego's kiss,
a primary-coloured Narcissus,

and a pink
and jolly bedsheet ghost
declaring USA FOREVER.

But even the good old Queen,
depicted as if in bas-relief
against a post-box red,
attached to a small
and Spring-green envelope,

hands out her own marvels.