What Rough Beast | Poem for July 14, 2019

Chad Parenteau
Taint Michael

Failures follow
leader.

Make it to
golden cell.

Hit low
look upward.

Conquer world
side kicked,

no button
to push.

Flush instead
cycle out,

final act
in view.

Bow head
for camera.

Name drop
God’s name,

hope heavens
hear buzz.

Slate is
bridge length,

blow behind
dead walk.

Pray on
senile savior,

bank on
Bank shot

last minute
on steps.

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 the online journal Oddball Magazine. His second full-length collection, The Collapsed Bookshelf, is forthcoming.

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