Dylan Weir- Three Poems

Father Brown

The family priest, clerical collar

worn always, married my mom and dad and all dad’s 8 siblings,

baptized 26 of my cousins and

I always took pride in the fact that you did mine

over the cliffs of Ireland

You must have said a thousand services for us.

when my sister first showed signs of being a heathen

announcing proudly she wouldn’t attend

granny slapped her across the face

while you stood silent

with that smiling

submission

The Morning After

forgive me father

for I am sin

last night I was a werewolf howlin’

moonshine in the wind

I am sin when the sun sets west

I reach not for what’s right but

whatever’s left. that western loneliness

manifest; fate in my chest

it’s emptiness

it’s necessity

I need and I need and

I’m necessity

I’m greed and it’s

fate filling up

my chest cavity

father,

last night I was the bathtub sin

pissing moonshine in the wind

see, I was born on a leash

set free by the night

to fight fuck and flee

anywhere, everywhere

you see father, it’s manifest

destiny

forgive me

Weekly Washing

They told me to pray

for you

one day I’ll learn forgiveness

and we can start

askew

on my knees, my hardwood floor

our pew

I bite my lips just like I did

with you

Dylan Weir is a Chicago poet, writer and perpetual student. He works for Young Chicago Authors, was chosen as a semifinalist for the 2014 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award and is currently getting his M.A. in English at DePaul University.