A Threatening Hand Poem by Kurt Philip Behm

Everyone listened, but nobody talked,
as the Vicar rode on by

His horse an old swayback, loaded with bibles
stove hat pointing up toward the sky

Everyone listened, but nobody smiled,
as the Vicar stormed and raged

"To hell in an instant, to hell you're all going, "
bony fingers turning the page

Monday till Saturday they spread their delight
catch-as-catch-can, then again

But Sunday morning to awaken in fright
—and face the Vicars threatening hand

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March,2018)