Engineers (On Our Coffee Break)
We used to go
down by the tracks
to throw stones
at the trains
as they went by
There was something
satisfying In the clang
of a rock
bouncing off a tanker
Sometimes we would sit
on the steps
of an old caboose
and pretend we were
engineers
on our coffee break
That’s where I was
when I saw him
staggering down the tracks
old pea coat
bottle of mad dog
I heard the train
before I saw it
and I don’t know
how he didn’t
the howl of the whistle
the brakes screaming
as it came into view
I yelled
as loud as I could
but he never heard me
or didn’t care
he never heard the train
or didn’t care
And then he was just
gone
For my father
Leg Hold Trap
They found him
with his foot stuck
in one of those
leg hold traps
The kind with the
steel jaws
that snap shut
when something
steps on them
There was blood
around his mouth
and the skin on his thigh
was torn ragged
where he had tried
to gnaw his way
to freedom
The Power And The Glory
Whiskey on his breath
nicotine on his teeth
Vomit on his shoes
from last night
or before
Dirt on his hands
and face
Laughing
he leans in close
and whispers
Believe
in the power and the glory
of a good stiff
drink
I say
I do
but from the look on his face
he doesn’t believe me
Thinks I’m just being nice
You don’t know the power
he says to me
I order another round
and ask him to teach me
Practice makes perfect
he says
He stands at the bar
like a bishop
at the pulpit
like a politician
on the floor of the senate
like a poet
or a philosopher
or a drunk
with vomit on his shoes
Believe
in the power and the glory
and I do
Praise Jesus
I believe
Confession
Kneeling in the dark
Seeing the silhouette
Of Father McMahon
Through the screen
Smelling the cheap scotch
And Winston cigarettes
on his breath
Bless me father
For I have sinned
My last confession was
Listing my sins
Like an auditor
Or accountant
I lied three times
I talked back
To my mother five times
I coveted
Lucy Morrison
More times
Than I can count
Let us say
The act of contrition
Kneeling in the chapel
Mumbling prayers
Barely remembered
Gripping the
beaded necklace
Of empty faith
Feeling no redemption
From the malevolent
Almighty
I am absolved
Of the sins
I did not commit
And damned by
Those unspoken
Bless me father
For I have sinned
My last confession was
Obscured by
A screen
Heard by an old man
With sins of his own
Dumpster Fire Press 