Bad Pollen Afternoon

[dukealien]

Bad Pollen Afternoon


As I lay on a couch of basket-woven bronze
dark verdigris warmed by a springtime sun
(what perfect weather, but the breeze that would
have soothed all burn from heat instead
reactivated allergies, nose stuffed
with cayenne pepper leaking salty sap)

as I lay thus, bedeviled by
a golden mean of pure repose, I heard
an alto voice say, “Allah!”
Woman's voice it was, not quite petulant
the tone of an exasperated mother -
Mary, it might be – accompanied
by heel-stamp on the flags of Paradise.

What was that scene, of which I only heard
its soundtrack? Mother Mary telling off
fair Gabriel and fire-eyed Azazel
for double-teaming some sun-addled man -
peace, oh, peace be unto him! -
with Gabriel commanding that
there never be compulsion in religion while
fallen Azazel impersonating Gabe
commanded that all infidels
convert or die in fear?

I went inside evading pepper-pollen
heard broadcast news of terror, bombs, beheadings.
And thought,
“Gabriel, you bloody twit!"