Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Vol. 86, No. 6. Whole No. 511, December 1985

Another grave tone by James Holding[11]

Here lies what’s left of Joe Moncrief,

A famed but now defunct jewel thief,

Who died because of once forgetting His iron-clad rule on jewels and setting,

Which simply was: when stealing gems, Whether in rings or diadems,

Pry out the jewels, then cast aside The settings by which they’re identified.

For years, this concept kept Joe sweet And kept him, too, on Easy Street,

Until the night at a Turkish revue

He spotted a ruby of gorgeous hue

(To a jewel thief s dream the ultimate answer)

Set in the navel of a belly-dancer,

Herself so lovely of mien and shape That Joe watched ruby and girl agape,

And then attempted, romantic fool,

To steal the setting as well as the jewel—

Whereat her boy friend drew his scimitar

And punctured Joe Moncrief’s perimeter.