Photography © Glenn Bowie

 

A Shallow Grave

You know the Devil doesn’t blink boys
Doesn’t flinch
He’s always a country mile from your soul
Give or take an inch
He’s sitting there grinning
While I cinch up the noose
He just wants to be on the side that’s winning
So says Bobby Dylan
As all of heaven
breaks loose

I’ll tattoo the bleeding heart of Jesus
on his ruby red skin
string up the hanging judge
side by side along with him
before my trial begins

As I walk through the fires
of all my mortal sins
my head held high
at the gates of Hell
they say he’s a forgiving Lord
that’s where
the repenting shall
and will begin

So dig me a shallow grave
And my time will come soon
Dig it like you’re digging to China
With a Hell bent silver spoon

Bury me under the light
of the fire red blood moon
tell Nero to tune up the fiddle
play me a sorrowful fucking tune
I think I’ve finally figured out this horrible riddle
Tell Saint Peter that maybe
If he plays his cards right
I’ll see him soon

 

Glenn Bowie is a published poet, lyricist, musician and photographer from the Boston area. He also owns and operates an elevator company that supplies custom-built elevators for clients from New England to Hollywood. The author of two poetry and photograph collections (Under the Weight of Whispers and Into the Thorns and Honey) from Big Table Publishing, he donates all profits from his books to various charities for the homeless and local animal shelters.