imitation of death


IMITATION OF DEATH



Swear.  Take the knee

on rural prayer rugs

and bets that deliverance

will not come as genteel rain

from a head that wears

violent-colored yarn for hair

or fingers decked out

with the not-beauty

of paste-on black/yellow/red claws

or hands calculating

efficiency and actuality's last resort

with guns, drones , dread drums,

bombs bursting in acid air,

mushrooms that blind and burn

earth with ashes and embers.

Beware what you curse.

Beware when your ancient eye

does see bodies and blood

in Jesuit joints of immortality.



Jerry W. Ward, Jr.            October 7, 2019


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