Sticky Note Conversion

August ‘83 brought a devil in a hurricane
and the church keeps singing amen.

Heroine evangelist hopped the gravy train
with a sticky note conversion lip synced
with words stolen from a dead brother’s life.

Don’t air the truth in public....shhhhh
We have a billboard revival and
a Papa Sam mentor teaching Junior
how to change tears into cash for a new suit.

Some lies never die if they keep paying for the show.
Add another chorus to the hurricane hymn,
but the sand will shift when truth spills from the right tongue.


©Susie Clevenger 2016


Comments

Kerry O'Connor said…
Some lies never die if they keep paying for the show.

Phew! Susie.. this bites!
Kim M. Russell said…
I love this one, Susie!
colleen said…
Nice poetic storytelling. The truth usually finds a way to come out.
Fireblossom said…
Have you ever read "Elmer Gantry"? This made me think very much of that book, one of my favorites.
hedgewitch said…
"Some lies never die if they keep paying for the show..." When I was about ten, my mother was 'saved' at a revival--from what I don't know--and for about 6 months all we had was our 'sins' and the Bible being bashed over our heads every day and night. Meaningless, twisted words from her whose life was as spiritual as a cigarette butt. Eloquent poem, Susie, and also in the line I quoted, rather universal to what is going on around us atm.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Wow! Ka-pow! A fantastic write.
Jim said…
Loving the progression here, Susie. From hurricane to revival conversion to a big scam and ending up with the paid liars.
I've lived them all, Hurricane Alicia came right over our house, young limber trees saved the roof. We watched it out the back windows. Then all the broken skyscraper glass fallen into the streets showed on TV next day. Revival conversion, Bob Dylan takes the cake for me. The scam reminds me of the movie, "Paper Moon." And the lies, I hope they get caught up with soon before ... (don't want to get real political here on your nickel).
..
Anonymous said…
Your words are so true
grapeling said…
makes me think of Flannery O'Connery ~
Maude Lynn said…
Wow. This has fearsome teeth.