What Rough Beast | Poem for January 9, 2020

Chad Parenteau
Resistance Tankas, Reel 9

John Bolton Jesus Tanka

John Bolton Jesus,
once subpoenaed, will perform
his first miracle,
walk Iran’s grounds, burned to glass,
claim he stands atop water.

World War Three Jesus Tanka

World War Three Jesus,
thought to have died in eighties,
is hanging in wait,
waiting for right temperament
to ascend him with the clouds.

#ToiletTrump Jesus Tanka, #TakeTwo

#ToiletTrump Jesus
just wants to go down, at last,
but he keeps rising!
A new parable, a metaphor…
Why can’t he just stop rising?!?

Hawkish Jesus Tanka

Wish hawkish Jesus
he needs all twelve disciples
before he ascends.
Another four are drafted.
Needs just one to blog scripture.

New York Times Jesus Tanka

New York Times Jesus
asked if he’s the King of Jews.
New York Times Jesus
only replies, Wow. You’re smart.
Advantage is clearly theirs.

Return Fire Jesus Tanka

The congregation
of Return Fire Jesus
takes in his sermon
between reloads. Turn one cheek,
make other conceal carry.

Whistleblower Jesus Tanka, Take Three

Prez washes his hands
of Whistleblower Jesus
over and over,
hopes to find blood in water,
wonders when the blood will come.

Chad Parenteau is the author of Patron Emeritus (FootHills Publishing, 2013). His work has appeared in Tell-Tale InklingsQueen Mob’s Tea HouseThe Skinny Poetry JournalIbbetson Street, and Wilderness House Literary Review. He serves as associate editor of Oddball Magazine. His second full-length collection, The Collapsed Bookshelf, is forthcoming.

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