This poem originally appeared in the legendary Chicago publication, Poetry. Because of that we can listen to Beeder read this short piece, as well as her introduction to it, on the Poetry Foundation website.

Amy Beeder teaches at UNM. Previously she was a human rights observer in Haiti and Suriname, and taught high school in West Africa. She will be reading Sunday August 1st at the Church of Beethoven with Stefi Weisburd.

Captain Haddock vs. the PTA

Bewildered Saint of the curse, bulbous
& profane, I invoke you against this Nest
Of Lice & Vipers: o volcanic Captain, I implore you, pour
Your scorn upon these Borgias; before these Braggarts
Unfurl your thick invective, show your bullet head
Whiskey-pickled, weathered & pupiless, sweating
In a bantam rage, your sad-fish face a fist;
Ostrogothic versus the matrons
Voluble against the Vampire’s slander
Because I would never say Vivisectionist to her face
While you old Captain Fatstock, Hopscotch, Havoc
Denouncer of Bullies, Knitters & Bandits
Live to make the air around you frantic
To spill your black lake of Cannibal ink.