Jesus Freak by Cletus Crow (2025, Pig Roast Publishing)
Jesus Grips My Hand. He Breaks Bone.
I would first like to address two facts, separate from the work itself, that should immediately pique your interest, as they did mine.
I also hope to dispel any preconceived notions that a writer posing as a crow named Cletus should not be taken seriously.
First, this collection of poetry was released by Pig Roast Publishing, the small press founded by Jeff Schneider, guitarist of the legendary No Wave band Arab On Radar.
The press’s first release was Psychiatric Tissues, the band memoir penned by Jeff, or, using his stage name, Mr Clinical-Depression, himself.
The press has since established itself as an authoritative voice in outsider literature and poetry, making it the perfect home for a writer such as Cletus.
The second is the accolade bestowed upon Cletus Crow’s previous poetry collection Phallic Symbols by none other than the historically important master of transgression, Dennis Cooper, who included it on his blog as one of his favourite books of 2024.
Taken together, these two facts prove beyond considerable doubt that the artist we are discussing is one of significance.
I myself was guilty of thinking Cletus Crow might be more of a comedy poet, due to some of his playful poems posted on his X account.
I was very happy to be proven wrong as I delved into Jesus Freak and encountered more depth than I had anticipated.
The collection is innovative in that each poem was written after reading a book of the Bible.
It is a charming concept that immediately makes you want to know exactly what each poem contains.
The answer is many things. Some poems focus directly on events from the Bible, while others are more minimalist prose, inspired merely by the sentiment of a verse.
The most arresting element of this book, however, is not the interpretations of the Bible themselves, but the candour with which Cletus delivers his confessional and explicit poetry through their lens.
You are bewitched by visceral and blunt portrayals of non-heteronormative lust, though these are tempered with humour rather than self-pity, immediately warming you to our ‘perverted ass’ protagonist, in his own words.
Every poem contains at least one line capable of stunning you with its brilliance, and many contain several.
Early on, the freedom of expression is established with lines like I’d never rape an angel, followed by curious wisdom such as You can do anything if you’re not in jail. And if, like me, you enjoy savouring poetry, you will find yourself pausing after bombshell lines such as Your hair in the morning is a biblically accurate angel.
It is an exhortation that exists in the interstitial space between queerness and faith, refusing to fully commit to either, and expressing instead the alienated, slightly unreal feeling of this half-illuminated place.
If the book concerned only one of these two opposing topics, it would not be nearly as scintillating.
Full of heart, humour, and unflinching honesty, this sparse and focussed collection cements the elusive Cletus Crow as one of the definitive voices in contemporary American poetry, making Jesus Freak an essential purchase.
If you are in the US, support Pig Roast Publishing and buy the book, here.
If you are outside the US, shipping is cheaper via Amazon, where the book is available globally.