Death of the Daughter of the Creator of Archie

In the dark time
the gentleman took his pen
and sketched
what caught fire and
created smile-light.

It went to California where
the sun never sets and
the cactus is brightly baked.
How American is that
thing of little jokes.

It founded a kingdom
with joys spread over
generations. Where will the spreading
end? The joy of the pen
comforted her and brought her life and fortune,
until yesterday.