Bernard Chan Poet Free verse

Liquid Shelter

I toss fire down your throat
pour you your bullet, goblet to gullet

glass-jacketed explosions 
line my wall like church organ flues
ablution for absolution from desperation 
libation-liberations for exaggerated exhilarations
bottled fevers for believers

kneel your mind
choose your raptures

you’ve come to my altar
now your blood I’ll alter

shaken, stirred, swirled, singed with little bonfires
as potent a potion as you like
each percent speeds your ascent or descent 
your thirst it’ll wet and abet

I have spirits to lift yours 
a cure in every liqueur
bubbly for the lively 
painkillers for loners

oh, I’ll hear your confessions too
earshot with your liquor shot, on the house
no judgement nor penance 
just a warped sense of time to let you unparch your soul 
salvage the day
and get ready to face the next one

I’m your friendly mercenary-priest 
enforcing a restraining order against reality

one more?

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

David Smith February 13, 2019 at 4:41 PM Interesting take. Can not fault poetically speaking. Not sure if your soul is speaking here but you have captured thoughts we all have had at some stage about guardians of our faith who test our belief in all that is good. Best wishes David in NZ Bernard Chan February 13, 2019 at 6:28 PM My faith in human goodness is tested almost daily and affirmed nearly just as often. Thanks a lot, David.

Caren Krutsinger February 13, 2019 at 5:22 AM Hilarious! Loved this part: "your friendly mercenary-priest " I remembered as I read this being scared to death in a church once that was not my church, but being so filled with fear I ran up to get re-dedicated, and my mother had seven phone calls about it before I got home. It was my first time in this "You will all go to H*** church. And my last. Bernard Chan February 13, 2019 at 7:31 AM I'm sure H*** is not where you're headed, Caren. I'd bet you're going the other way. Thank you! :)