They Always Get Jesus In Prison

 

I see where David Berkowitz got Jesus in prison

like they always do.

Now he runs a ministry, adept as he always was

at delivering

succinct

sermonettes

delivering people to God.

He was a postal clerk, always involved

with the Message.

Such converts always have a carnival of explanations--

the Devil

the neighbor's dog

and other invented booshwah.

Susan Atkins got Jesus in prison too

and wrote a memoir

about her redemption, her will turned over

from Charlie

to Christ

but it could have been Moonies or Ekankar.

There is a rat who lives in my garage.

He hasn't heard the Good News

but he never

hurts anyone.

He has published no book, leads no prayers.

He likes to hang out behind a shovel

that has never dug a grave.

The authorities let Leslie Van Houton, Caril Ann Fugate,

and Nathan Leopold out.

Karla Homolka changed her name and might be anywhere,

at services maybe,

holding a bible and smiling.

________

Emily the Innocent

 

Our Lady of the Upstairs Apartment

tired saints sharing cushions on her couch

welcomes you with chocolate or a half mint

and her kiss at the corner of your mouth

The landlord carries rain in a bucket

collected from the cripples in the hall

no desert-born demon can obstruct it

if a judgment or her lashes start to fall

Our Lady of the Wooden Table Kitchen

serves you holy water in a little cup

and speaks to you in such a soothing diction

the bedtime tales the sofa boys made up

The weary stars lie down upon her rooftop

and she covers them with blankets made of smoke

In the morning they roll cigarettes and wonder

at the comforts as they slept she kindly spoke

Our Lady of the Upstairs Apartment

with her crosses made from cherry wood or teak

she laughs and calls you Emily the Innocent

and leaves you with her kiss upon your cheek.

Faith Dentistry

Here at the Church of the Broken Tooth,
we are all feeling nervy.
We have been handed envelopes for tithing,
and our own personal Jesus Action Figures
perfect for use as candles or cudgels.

We do not suffer the loony veteran.
We cannot condone the homosexual.
This is God's will, not ours.
We have rent our garments and need needles
and smaller, oh much smaller camels,
though filthy and willful beasts they be.

We of the Broken Tooth faith community
take to the streets, with placards to protect the unborn,
except, of course, for our Allison
"away at bible camp"
until she returns, in time for Christmas,
her body once again an empty and lesser vessel. 
_________