SUZANNE NUSSEY
Saint Julian Press Poet
Poems from SLOW WALK HOME
The wicked fairy at the cradle
An old-time preacher takes
my father’s Sunday evening service
when my mother’s water breaks
and they bolt for the hospital
before anyone can wish them
well or offer prayers or cast a spell
for me. But all hell breaks loose
when the old man shames the organist
for her jewelry forbidden
in his books, and she counters
with invective from King James:
Viper, fool, blind guide,
hypocrite, whitewashed grave full
of dead men’s bones,
extortionist of human souls.
The congregation then takes sides,
making it a full-on fight
ending only when the man in charge
of music puts his trumpet
to his lips, blasting “Silent Night”
so loud my grandmother next door
can sing along.
Thus my advent is heralded
with a curse, a battle, and a song.
An old-time preacher takes
my father’s Sunday evening service
when my mother’s water breaks
and they bolt for the hospital
before anyone can wish them
well or offer prayers or cast a spell
for me. But all hell breaks loose
when the old man shames the organist
for her jewelry forbidden
in his books, and she counters
with invective from King James:
Viper, fool, blind guide,
hypocrite, whitewashed grave full
of dead men’s bones,
extortionist of human souls.
The congregation then takes sides,
making it a full-on fight
ending only when the man in charge
of music puts his trumpet
to his lips, blasting “Silent Night”
so loud my grandmother next door
can sing along.
Thus my advent is heralded
with a curse, a battle, and a song.
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Saint Julian Press, Inc. * Houston, TX 77008 * Ron Starbuck ~ Publisher-CEO
Email: ronstarbuck@saintjulianpress.com * Web: www.saintjulianpress.com
Saint Julian Press, Inc. * Houston, TX 77008 * Ron Starbuck ~ Publisher-CEO
Email: ronstarbuck@saintjulianpress.com * Web: www.saintjulianpress.com
SAINT JULIAN PRESS, INC. © 2022
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As an Amazon Associate — Saint Julian Press, Inc. may earn funds from any qualifying purchases.
This arrangement does help to sustain the press and allow us to publish more books by more authors.