The Baptism of Clown Baby

by Gerry LaFemina

In the name of the Holy Spirit, Father Spatz lifts up a seltzer bottle, fires one fizzy shot into the baptismal font. Amen, the congregation sings, even as the priest raises the bottle, faces the pews.

Gerry LaFemina is the author of nine books of poems, prose poems, and fiction; his latest book is Vanishing Horizon (Anhinga Press). He directs the Frostburg Center for Creative Writing at Frostburg State University, where he is an Associate Professor of English. He divides his time between Maryland and New York.