une deux trois

"

this here.
this empty porch swing, this sepia.
this is God’s country,
but they stopped inviting him a long time ago.

the devil isn’t called Morningstar here.
he’s beyond a fallen angel -
but he’s the king and everyone wants to be his queen.
oh yes,
everyone’s a witch,
except they aren’t put on trial here.
they’re the judge and jury.

the old man calls himself sacred,
calls his house holy.
he doesn’t go to church.
sinner, they whisper.
you’ll go to hell.
they burn him down as he sleeps.
the last temple, razed to the ground.

this is God’s country.
but the devil’s a tenant,
and everyone’s paying his rent.

"