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MERGE LITERARY MAGAZINE
Things to shout about
'Pastor'


By Bill Marable


He was a pastor of the third generation
who could sometimes get animated in his presentation

Like last Sunday at the 11 o’clock hour
The Spirit took hold and he began to tower

As the choir ended it’s morning song to glory
Pastor begins to recite his holy story

He stood at the mic all clam and composed
As he laid the groundwork with eloquent prose

It was about 10 - 15 minutes into his spiritual indoctrination
When Holy Fire caught hold to his presentation

He let out a yell, a rather boisterous shout
Leapt in the air, spung around and let another out

Then Deacon Jones almost on cue
said “go ahead preacher!” And he knew just what to do

“Let the glory of the Lord feel us all”
His voice echoed in the Sacred Hall

Half the congregation sprung to their feet
though some elders were less deliberate in leaving the seat

Yet they nodded and waived with their signifying hand
Deacon Jones shouted again "go ahead man!"

Just when you thought their praise was spent
Bro Albert tapped them drums, to Sister Grace’s tambourine accompaniment

Sister Joyce had been stroking the keys in stride with Pastor
But now she had to play a little bit faster

Folks were running and jumping and falling out
The Spirit was in the mist, no doubt

Looking at the clock, Pastor vowed not to keep them long
drenched in sweat, he asked the choir for a song

He stood at the door greeting all who passed
Thinking “the buffet starts at 1, and I don’t want to be last."




 
 
 


  • ISSUE #4 CELEBRATING BLACK MEN
  • Mission and Content
  • POETRY AND PROSE
  • Photography Celebrating Black Men - ICONS AND ANCESTORS - SUSAN J. ROSS
  • ESSAYS SHORT STORIES AND ​LOVE LETTERS
  • BIOGRAPHIES
  • About US
  • SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
  • ISSUE #3 CELEBRATING BLACK CULTURE
  • Mission and Content
  • About US
  • POETRY AND PROSE
  • BLACK MUSIC PHOTO ESSAY
  • ESSAYS ARTICLES AND FICTION
  • VISUAL ART GALLERY
  • BIOGRAPHIES
  • SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
  • Support Merge Literary Magazine
  • ISSUE #2 CELEBRATING BLACK WOMEN
  • FEATURED WRITERS AND ARTISTS
  • MERGE LITERARY MAGAZINE PRINT EDITION
  • Mission and Content
  • About US
  • POETRY
  • ESSAYS ARTICLES AND FICTION
  • Multimedia Art Review
  • PHOTOGRAPHY CELEBRATING BLACK WOMEN
  • ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
  • WRITERS AND ARTISTS BIOS
  • SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
  • ISSUE #1 POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
    • Mission and Content
    • About US
    • POETRY
    • PROSE
    • ART ILLUSTRATION
    • ESSAYS AND PLAY
    • MULTI-MEDIA QUILT REVIEW
    • WRITERS AND ARTISTS BIOS
    • SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
    • Support Merge Literary Magazine
  • ESSAYS SHORT STORIES AND ​LOVE LETTERS