(This feature appeared in the Summer 1999 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)

The Beast is gone!
Can it be so?
Where will he go?
I do not know.

I do not know
where the Beast will go,
but wherever it is
It's lower than low.

This I can say -
this much I know -
Billy the Beast
shot himself in the toe.

He ranted and raved
'til he was red in the face.
But all it got him
was shame and disgrace.

He had done quite well,
his lies to tell -
he poisoned the Earth -
ordered Bastards to Hell.

But there arose
a small voice of prose
chanting Bastard Power
was sweet as a rose.

The Beast he laughed,
he laughed out loud.
He laughed and laughed
until he howled.

But then came Bastards
from all over the land
they grew in number
from a mere motley band.

A motley band
fearing no trepidation
they joined together
in a Bastard Nation.

A Bastard Nation! -
It had never been done!
The Beast laughed louder
thinking his work done.

But then it happened -
they came face to face!
Billy the Beast
and the Nation debased.

The Beast hissed and he spat
swore that he was top cat
called them spoiled and ungrateful brats
- but he would soon take care of that.

The debate began
but to his surprise
The Beast found himself
stripped of his pride.

He huffed and he puffed,
He grimaced and groaned!
The Bastards were tough!
Billy B. ran on home.

Back home in D.C.
What could he do?
He shivered and shook
crouched where no one could see.

But those ungrateful Bastards
would show him no quarter.
They came to his home
and set up a border.

They marched and they chanted -
many speeches they made.
Even the police
saw through the Beast's charade.

For the coup de grace
an exorcism was in order
even God himself
laughed a hearty har har.

The Beast was done
he knew it deep down
for everyone now knew
he was naught but a clown.

He waited and waited for the ax to fall
for the board of directors
to tell him "That's all!"
Billy the Beast - don't even bother to call.

Now it is done.
The deed it is so
The Beast is gone
From here to below.

And what does he hear
as he sobs through his tears?
BASTARD POWER FOREVER
still rings in his ears.

John Sweeley is an adoptee and the adoptive father of three sons. He is also a theologian
and the author of "Jesus in the Gospels: Man, Myth, or God" to be released by International
Scholars Publications in May 1999. His next book is "Adoption: The Case for Open Records."

(This feature appeared in the Summer 1999 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)

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