thanks for the invitation but…

being
a religious woman
effie
attended church
on
those holidays
necessary
to
maintain 
her social contract
with
the divine
easter
christmas
and
at least
one
other
randomly selected
day
a schedule
that
provided
one dedicated
service
for
the father
son
or
holy ghost
but
avoided
the routine
repetitive sunday sermons
that
other parishioners
found
indispensable
as
full time members
of
sinners anonymous
effie
had met
the new pastor
who
encouraged her
to
attend
more frequently
but
having seen
the handsome
young man
she knew
the deacons’ wives
would be
fantasizing
and
pressing close
to him
while cooking
in
the church kitchen
with
their
abundant
body parts
throughout
the after services
reception
which
always seemed
more like
a
repast
plus
she
had overheard
their
bachelorette daughters
scheming on
how to replace
his wife
so
effie decided
it was
far
holier
outside
the church
than
inside
accepting
that
sometimes
contact minimalism
is
best

 

 

showing this sunday…

aunt myrtle loved church
she’d say where else can you fine
free social dramas
with a cast of characters 
usually found on soap operas

 

persnickety…

sermons
always contained
just
enough
sideline sunday sin
to
engender
a level of guilt
that
fosters
donations
proportionate
to
perceived public perception
of
sins committed
offenders
carefully monitor
smiles
smirks
and
direct scours
of
other parishioners
to
assess
the level of discernment
by
said
members
to
the number of sins
previously
thought
to be
undisclosed
following
this post sermon survey
as
the collection t plate
canvasses the congregation
the magnitude of
the visible
repentance offering
is
adjusted
and
humbly given
but
with
flare

it’s all about timing…

the pastor
swayed
to
the music
from
the youth choir
smiling broadly
as
he opened
the bible
and
read
a verse
about
the true meaning
of
forgiveness
to which
deacon jones
exclaimed
amen
while
staring
at
a frowning
sister jones
in
the front row

 

when state is church…

that old broken gate
been that way for years and years
like faith without truth

 

spring #14…

a spring sunday
church youth choir
singing
at
a country church
wind dancing
though
the tall grass
along
a dirt road
smells of spring
and
birds’ voices
fill the air
it would appear
the best
songs
of
praise
are
outside
the church doors

close-fitting legal briefs…

at the instant
of
death
are you provided
with
a quick review
of
your life
a visual
pretrial conference
before
entering
the angelic courtroom
so as
to
provide you
with
the appropriate
preparation
for
defending
actions
taken
or
not taken
during
what
you now
consider
an abbreviated
existence
and
as you
stand
before
heaven’s magistrate
will you be
wondering
if
you’re granted
the right
of appeal
if
some lesser angel
decides
not
in your favor
can you
appeal
to the supreme being
or
must you
request
purgatory
while
you prepare
your final defense
hell
maybe
it would have been
easier
to have done
it right
the
first tine

saying with a last breath…

death’s not heaven’s door
is what the old man said but
you keep denying

you keep denying
life has no happy endings
death’s not heaven’s door

angels in the architecture…

ornate marble halls
with dogmatic apostles
god must sit outside

order confirmation…

thanks for your order
we’ll email you god’s answer
but keep on praying
and don’t forget peter’s verse
the lord’s day ain’t like your day