What Rough Beast | Poem for November 30, 2019

Chad Parenteau
Two Timely Tankas from the Resistance, Reel 5

Thanksgiving Jesus Tanka

Thanksgiving Jesus
only rises from his grave
once his family
have gone, having talked hours
to justify killing him.

Chick-fil-A Jesus Tanka

Chick-fil-A Jesus
Keeps curtains closed on Sundays.
Gathered at his door,
Judases sweat lonely brine
asking for their silver back.

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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