Tyson West
Greenville High Class of 67 Fiftieth Reunion
Long before we were blessed with the pulpy haze of Fox News
We had Presbyterian pulpits
In our pale home town to caution the evils
Of alcohol and dark-skinned philistines
We never smelled but held certain they
Hid in the same shadows with queers
Lusting to cross the tracks by the Shenango River
Onto our smooth cool, weed free golf course and lawns
To smash the wavy glass of our windows
And grab the presents under our Christmas trees
Their drug stained fingers flashing gang signs
To make baby Jesus cry.
Old Glory flew high and proud just as we got liquored up to leave
For Saigon to make our truth flesh
And score our next touchdown –
Truth it seems never changes.
Bio
Tyson West lives in Eastern Washington in smoke and dust on the bottom of an Ice Age flood plain.
He enjoys reciting his poetry to magpies and coyotes.
He has published poetry and speculative fiction in various genres in "Fast Forward Festival",
Voluted Tales, and in anthologies "Warlords of the Asteroid Belt", and "You Can't Kill Me I'm Already Dead".
He has had two poems nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His poetry collection "Home-Canned Forbidden Fruit"
is available from Gribble Press.
His novella "Mall of the Damned" was published
in 2014 by Red Dashboard Publishing, LLC.
He received Third Place in the 2018 Kalanithi Award for his rondel 'Under the Bridge.' He is also a member of the Furry Writer's Guild and listed on the "Haiku Registry."