splattered heady red on
concrete straight up
those secret shadows who
lurked silent
in the catacombs of my soul,
my downy paper towl doing no damage
as the stains eat
my fingers blushing sin.
such standard of righteousness
scrawled with magic marker
on Sunday school wall:
behold you desire truth
I am not sure I can provide--
behold you desire wisdom
I am not sure I hold.
stop. you want of me
what I cannot give—
see, it’s already poured onto the
desert sand, drying putrid
in the heat; my bones
are too whole I love
these hidden parts too much--
oh god.
at least hide your face as
you touch the purple hyssop branch
to my quivering lips
--purify, wash
my chest cavity,
aching anxious dark
the hole still gaping
sin poured out.
oh god!
deliver me of my blood guilt--
let my naked tongue
sing, my cracked lips
praise, the bones you
broke rejoice.
I will sacrifice not ram
nor ox
but this spirit
split in two like a cracked
open mango, fragrant.
do not despise it,
but deliver us from
evil for thine is the kingdom
or at least this
I pray.
