Without Works, a Poem by Scott Thomas Outlar

Parading in front of cameras

and complaining incessantly

about the world’s problems

without offering

any solutions

of your own

is about as dead-end

of a street

as I’ve ever seen tread

The cock crowed thrice

while you bled on the asphalt

Sipping on your gas-lit visions

no magic in that carpet ride

Pissing in your own pot

and whining unfaithfully

about how God let you down

without taking

any actions

of your own

leaves little wonder

over why

prayers rang hollow

The angels came in scores

but you scorned them with your tongue

Drinking of your hemlock potions

no spell cast in that poisoned well

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Scott Thomas Outlar is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He now lives and writes in Frederick, Maryland. His work has been nominated multiple times for both the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. He guest-edited the Hope Anthology of Poetry from CultureCult Press as well as the 2019-2023 Western Voices editions of Setu Mag. He is the author of seven books, including Songs of a Dissident (2015), Abstract Visions of Light (2018), Of Sand and Sugar (2019), and Evermore (2021 - written with co-author Mihaela Melnic). Selections of his poetry have been translated and published in 14 languages. He has been a weekly contributor at Dissident Voice for the past nine years. More about Outlar's work can be found at 17Numa.com.