Two Tanka Poems by Chad Parenteau

 

 

Skullless Baby Jesus Tanka

 

Forget me, my God,

cries Skullless Baby Jesus

while he takes fifth nail

to hold up crucified head,

cursing the day he was born.

Controlled Narrative Jesus Tanka

Facing spike-filled pit,

Controlled Narrative Jesus

Said, It’s my story.

Controlled Narrative Jesus

Then jumped in, crucified self.

Chad Parenteau - Chad Parenteau hosts Boston's long-running Stone Soup Poetry series. His latest collection is  The Collapsed Bookshelf. His poetry has appeared in journals such as Résonancee, Molecule, Ibbetson Street, Pocket Lint, Cape Cod Poetry Review, Tell-Tale Inklings, Off The Coast, The Skinny Poetry Journal, The New Verse News, Nixes Mate Review and the anthology Reimagine America from Vagabond Books. He serves as Associate Editor of the online journal Oddball Magazine.