Our Preacher passes hours on the street
til pewter twilight sobers him enough
t'remember his responsibility
this morning and remind him how t'return
to home and to his chapel; so he jogs
his stumbling way along the one canal
that he remembers tracing yesternight
until he's back t'a more familiar place
whereat he's able make his way toward
the central square of town and back along 10
th'adjacent street on which his chapel stands.
Proceeding through the alleyway he goes
and enters through the door aback his house
to trip upon the steps so few beyond
the portal that ascend inside his home.
A shot of pain doth surge across his shin,
but quickly he arises once again
and limps toward the vanity to splash
his face with water from the basin there,
refreshing cold, but not enough to still 20
his slightly spinning vision or the haze
through which he views the room within this state.
He pats a cloth upon his face and sighs,
for as the dawn is breaking on the roofs,
it now is time to open up his doors.
Our Preacher makes his way toward the front
of th'house toward the chapel there beyond
and twixt the pews t'unlock the entrance doors
up front t'await the coming of his mass
upon the dais, holding up his stance 30
by hand upon the lectern, gripping firm.
An entry door begins to swing and though
at first he thinks his spinning head plays tricks,
when enters Chaplain doth he change his mind
and beam upon the man who holds a sack
so cradled in his arms he thinks at first
a babe is swath'd in burlap at his chest.
"Good morning to the drunken likes of thee!"
the Chaplain jokes whilst walking down the aisle.
Our Preacher blows through lips so purs'd he makes 40
a buzzing sort of noise and then replies:
"Me? Drunk? Nay, not a drop remains inside
my belly from our silly night before.
Much rather thou appear the tipsy one;
enough to make me think thou hastn't stopp'd
imbibing in the time betwixt our sit
around the table til this moment here."
YOU ARE READING
As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War
PoetryA troubled Pilgrim sets upon a road in search by sun and storm of paradise; a vain Pariah's banish'd from his home to render justice by the moonlit night: two individuals who share a flesh, each unalike in methods and beliefs, yet fated consequence...
