john the baptist a burning sign
eating locusts with wild honey
reading tea leaves and peyote dreams
his third eye speaks:
“make way for the reaver the scythe the pale horse rider
the ax is already at the root of the tree”
a dragon’s tooth under his hairshirt
“I predict a riot a rampage a killing spree”

last of the prophets to jesus he said:
“it is you who should submerse me”
and jesus said:
“the only way is no way
this is the way it should be”

and so jesus snaked off into the desert
for 40 girls in 40 nights
the lords of dogtown and traveling pants
sent runners into the wild
looking for some sign
finding nothing but insect wings and viper trails