The High Bench By Henry Taylor

William Rehnquist

grew testy when quizzed

concerning how sober

a judge ought to be the first week in October.

Stephen Breyer,

when a tabloid called to inquire

whether he is a space alien

felt sure of his status as earthly mammalian.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

said “Titanic,” in truth, made her wince. “Berg

phobia?” asked a reporter.

“No,” she said, “I just wish it were shorter.”

Anthony Kennedy

was startled: when had he

removed his tie?

And why?

Sandra Day O’Connor

was just about to don her

robes when her clerk

simply went beserk.

Antonin Scalia

like to sing “The Rose of Tralee”--a

treat for all students

of his jurisprudence.

David Souter

booted up his computer

and discovered that sex is

treated dryly on LEXIS.

John Paul Stevens

is one of the evens

against the odds, standing unbent

by his dissent.

Clarence Thomas

preserved and protected his early promise

by making sure he never strayed

into discussion of Roe v. Wade.

From “Brief Candles: 101 Clerihews” by Henry Taylor (Louisana State University Press: 54 pp., $14.95)