Angelique Zobitz
Yeezus Preaches to a Crowd in Baton Rouge
I.
and someone is yearning for Yeezus
more tomorrow than yesterday
is tired down to the bone,
thirst in the throat
ache in the small of the back
a lash of hunger in the belly,
gums throbbing to the tooth
pain thumping in the thigh,
swaying to the hot Gospel beat
in that outdoor-revival-humid air
hoping to be swept into the Rapture
because it’s better than today.
II.
A man can be forgiven for believing.
Yeezus walks with them in capitalism.
Dress that shit up in prosperity gospel,
shiny ass shoes, a good tax deduction
and give them too a trophy
wife who draws the gaze, O Lord.
Elucidate salvation is free
but the pancakes and bacon cost.
III.
Get lifted in the Spirit; perhaps catch the Holy Ghost.
Disremember the violent conversion at whip lash,
repress preachings of docility and servants of his Word teaching
generational inheritance—us descendants of Ham are meant
to bear the burdens, subservience in service to commerce.
Sing “Cotton is King!” or is it “Jesus is King”?
Yeezus, Overseer-plantation preacher implores you to sing
loud and long, keep vocalizing in the chorus make it great again
don’t stop chanting, wailing, trilling train them in the faith
just praise His master’s name.
Author’s Note: “Train them in the faith” is a lyric from the Kanye West song, “Closed on Sunday.”
The poems of Angelique Zobitz have appeared in The Adirondack Review, Sugar House Review, Glass, Poets Reading the News, So to Speak, SWWIM, Rise Up Review, Rogue Agent, Pretty Owl Press, and Psaltery & Lyre, among other journals. She lives in West Lafayette, Indiana with her husband, daughter, and a wild rescue dog and can be found on Twitter and Instagram: @angeliquezobitz
SUBMIT to What Rough Beast via our SUBMITTABLE site.
If you enjoyed today’s poem and you value What Rough Beast, consider making a donation to Indolent Books, a nonprofit poetry press.