Spotlights and Shadows
  
III. Demon Daddy
 
This lofty exorcist of saintly light
Berates blaspheming fiends of spleen and spit.
Before the lunchtime-sun has flexed its might
He scorches shrieking beasties in a snit:
A sear of aqua magic and a psalm,
A whisper of the great and goodly ghost,
A pious flourish purging inner harm,
A chug of charm to chill the fevered host,
Forces ghouls engorged with gall to flee
To shady spaces at the murky core
Of sorcerers too virtuous to see
A serpent sliding through their own back door.
The mad moon and the owl have always known
An exorcist has demons of his own.

Susan J. Bryant
 
If you have any thoughts about this poem or its companions, Susan J. Bryant  would be pleased to hear them