Saint Winterpeg Poem by William B. Petricko

Hail No complaint saint.
O ever enduring soul
bundled up for business
no polar vortex vexing
processing on
no bowing in surrender
exhorting toughness
faithfully defending a sturdy public image
(absolving sordid scenes: plump weatherchannelholics
whining wind chills and cursing driveway hedges
impenitent plowers left with scarce a breath
to pray away the endless arctic offerings) .

No complaint saint
AS IF...(a cold cup of contempt could capture voice)
there ARE no words!
Snatched midair by minus forty's fangs
wordy protestants
freeze silent.

Cry this calloused tyrant to abstain
Banish slushy taunting dank remissions-
oozing dirty droplets- feigning spring
Purge our stinging litany
through throats of feathered promisers
(mercy, mercy, mercy)
for hope's last clinging prisoners
Plead O plead for mercy
No complaint saint.

(c) 2014
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada