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Famous Reporter 36

Currajah

 

GEOFF PAGE

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    Religious Police

'Religious Police':

I warm to that sound.

 

I find in the mind

they go round and around.

 

I see them in churches

all singing their psalms,

 

their holiness matching

the strength in their arms.

 

'Religious Police'

must be peaceable guys -

 

their women as well,

selected for size.

 

Sadly, I'm told that

'Religious Police'

 

don't fancy the Bible,

are rarely obese

 

and live overseas

where they flourish a cane

 

for stopping young fillies

from flashing their mane

 

and helping the faithful

pray five times a day.

 

Their squad-cars are certain

what God has to say.

 

They know their own handbook's

his only true word,

 

that its various rivals

are wrong and absurd.

 

They know that their master

can't let a sin pass

 

without a good whack

with a cane on the arse.

 

'Religious Police'

have me mending my ways.

 

There's nothing like rattan

for helping one praise.

 

I'm halfway to heaven;

with God I've made peace.

 

He tells me hell's full of

'Religious Police'.

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Geoff Page is an Australian poet who has published eighteen collections of poetry as well as two novels, four verse novels and several other works including anthologies, translations and a biography of the jazz musician, Bernie McGann. His latest poetry collection is Seriatim, [Salt Publishing, UK 2007].