The Raw and the Crocked by Andre F. Peltier

When Jack Daniel kicked the safe,
broken toe and gangrene,
the cloistered secrets
of central Tennessee remained.
The infection ate his foot,
his leg, his mind. He grew weak
and stupid. He cried, “I am a Stalwart”
as he waved a bloody shirt.
To live and die in Lynchburg,
Mad Jack sang his song as he
waved a bloody shirt.
And down in the Delta,
where the river flows golden and free,
we too sing our songs.
“She’ll be comin’ ‘round the mountain
when it rains, when it rains!
She’ll be comin’ ‘round the mountain
when it rains.”
And when it rains, the gangrene sets in.
It eats our souls as it ate his toes.
And when it rains, we run for cover,
we open black umbrellas
and turn our backs to the wind.
The sad tissue death spreads
from county to county.
Those dry hills of central Tennessee
watched as the flesh rotted.
And we sang the heady song
of gangrenous defeat.

Artist’s Statement

As a writer, I often focus on social and political themes, but my work also deals heavily with history, pop culture and humor. My poems, while occasionally following very strict forms, generally utilize free verse and include readable, complete sentences. I believe in an economy of words so as to ensure that I don’t say something in five words when two will do. With that in mind, I really enjoy the editing process during which I can delete the extraneous language in order to get to the point quicker without weighing the reader down with unnecessary stuff.

Andre F. Peltier (he/him) is a Pushcart and two time Best of the Net nominated poet and a Lecturer III at Eastern Michigan University where he teaches literature and writing. He lives in Ypsilanti, MI, with his wife and children. His poetry has recently appeared in various publications both online and in print. His poetry collections Poplandia and Ambassador Bridge are available from Alien Buddha, and his collection Trouble on the Escarpment is available from Back Room Poetry. He has another collection forthcoming in 2024: Petoskey Stones from Finishing Line Press. In his free time, he obsesses over soccer and comic books. www.andrefpeltier.com Twitter: @aandrefpeltier