Today's poem is by Michael Garrigan

Bully Pulpit
        Conestoga Massacre, December 1763

Reverend Elder preached at the pulpit
with a rifle in one hand, a bible in the other

        that they were good men in private,
                they heard his sermons, got drunk, went downstream
        they were virtuous and respectable,
                they found the Susquehannock at daybreak
        they were not cruel or mean, no,
                they scalped and killed and burnt their homes
        they were mild and they were merciful
                the survivors were put in the local jail

the barrel always angled up to his heaven,
tracing the oak rafters in its crosshairs
as he slammed psalms and scripture
down with his fist into the hard
backs of his pews and his congregation
as his Lord & Rifle Cloak shook

        these Paxton Boys were men that tilled their land
                for protection from the Paxton Boys
        that only wanted to protect their family and their God
                but two days after Christmas
        that simply rode the storm that had been gathering
                they broke in and found 14 taking refuge
        for quite some time just like anyone else would
                they chased down families with Tomahawks
        they wished not to be taken by the thunder
                they split heads, scalped, cut off hands and feet
        and lightning but to give it, to control it.
                and then finally a bullet in each mouth.

with praises of the Almighty, Amen.

Copyright © 2025 Michael Garrigan All rights reserved
from River, Amen
Wayfarer Books
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission