the chaplain asked if I believe in anything
he seemed kind with his silver hair
round flushed face & history too like mine
his travels through addiction his time behind bars
so I didn’t give the usual not-your-business
I said my god speaks to me in my language
which means he often says “go fuck yourself”
or “look at the balls on this guy” I mean
why would I trust anyone who won’t point out
when I’m being an asshole or need to get to work?
no use these days for parables of goats
for bread alone—have you seen the prison food?
the chaplain asked “but what happens
when you wake up panicked after midnight &
need comforted?” I said he tells me
“go back to sleep you shitheel when you wake up
it’s one day closer to the end of the world
one day closer to home”
Ace Boggess is the author of two books of poetry: The Prisoners (Brick Road, 2014) and The Beautiful Girl Whose Wish Was Not Fulfilled (Highwire, 2003). His writing has appeared in Harvard Review, Mid-American Review, RATTLE, River Styx, and many other journals. He lives in Charleston, West Virginia.