Holiness
As shallow as a country western score
But only as broad as a hopscotch grid,
Pete’s mind prepared him for nothing much more
Than beating his wife and hitting his kid.
Then Pete met Jesus one night in a tent
Where people got sweaty and spoke in tongues
While waving their hands like antennas meant
To bring down the God drug to throats and lungs.
He stopped attacking his family. Instead,
He took to shouting repetitive threats,
Bashing pedestrians over the head
With hell-fire and guilt and all his regrets.
Now that Pete is a happier creature,
His wife is planning to leave the preacher.