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Zombie for All Seasons
in the fall, you got caught up with a group
the Trick o’ Treaters on Halloween night
giving everyone a horrible fright
in the winter, you were a frozen stiff
only your eyeballs showed any movement
where your slight moaning begged for improvement
in the spring, you thawed out with freezer burn
soaking in lesions of the fresh decay
matters of melting now ruining your day
in the summer, you’re suddenly alive
moving about like a well-oiled beast
smelling like bacon or a spoiled feast
you truly became one for all seasons
sadly because of all the wrong reasons
Thanksgiving
the awaited season has now begun
almost as if without any notice
thoughts of a Rockwell painting on your mind
you sense every detail, every garnish
aroma of the Butterball turkey
permeates the great, family gathering
every single side dish you’ve ever known
awaits for you at the grand, old table
every fork, every spoon, set to its place
every expensive plate, shiny and bright
everyone sitting, awaiting the meal
everyone earnest in blessings and thanks
but…you are not there…and this is not real
the dead outside await to feast on you
Librarian
dead women tell no tales, only the truth
and if you’re truly looking for those facts
then that book can be found in libraries
step up to the circulation counter
and meet the librarian on duty
honestly, she is the only one left
be brief, she doesn’t talk much anymore
so stare into those very hollow eyes
raven parted with them when she first died
but her other senses will alert her
of your presence in her vicinity
librarians are very resourceful
ask her for the book and she will find it
truth is though, she’d rather eat your fresh mind
Chupa-Ku, Volume X: No. 46-50
chupacabra smells
human fear and human pets
it’s waiting for you
fatal disaster
pretty blonde running through woods
falls and drops…poodle
goats, chickens, poodles
chupacabras do not care
for it is just food
can’t you understand
to find a chupacabra
you must think like one
running wild and free
chupcacabra code of life
there is no other
Juan Manuel Pérez, a Mexican-American poet of indigenous descent and the current Poet Laureate for Corpus Christi, Texas (2019-2020), is the author of O’ Dark Heaven: A Response to Suzette Haden Elgin’s Definition of Horror (2009), Live from La Pryor: The Poetry of Juan Manuel Perez: A Zavala Country Native Son, Volume 1 (2014), and Sex, Lies, and Chupacabras (2015), as well as the co-editor of The Call of the Chupacabra (2018).