Grandpa Trickster © Turiya Autry
after weeks of counting in increments of 5
while sitting at the table of the sun
his earthly granddaughter
beat him at dominoes
when she was only 13
so he hurled all 28 bones into the sky
where they still shine on clear nights
he worked the rails while on land
to blend in with those considered common
knowing full well that saints
often beg on street corners to test for purity of heart
& atonement & benediction are found in juke joints
as often as churches, where true believers
drink spirits & holy water from the same glass
he diagnosed grief in his surroundings
& used humor as a panacea, curing pain with laughter
when medicines refused to mend wounds fully
prescribing black magic remedies deep fried
& seasoned with hot sauce
he captured hornet stings & barbs
in the thick skins of his soles
freed them with razorblades
hurling them at unsuspecting mortals
that underestimated the sharpness of speaking tongues
sometimes words are the only weapons available to gods on earth
while sitting at the table of the sun
his earthly granddaughter
beat him at dominoes
when she was only 13
so he hurled all 28 bones into the sky
where they still shine on clear nights
he worked the rails while on land
to blend in with those considered common
knowing full well that saints
often beg on street corners to test for purity of heart
& atonement & benediction are found in juke joints
as often as churches, where true believers
drink spirits & holy water from the same glass
he diagnosed grief in his surroundings
& used humor as a panacea, curing pain with laughter
when medicines refused to mend wounds fully
prescribing black magic remedies deep fried
& seasoned with hot sauce
he captured hornet stings & barbs
in the thick skins of his soles
freed them with razorblades
hurling them at unsuspecting mortals
that underestimated the sharpness of speaking tongues
sometimes words are the only weapons available to gods on earth
