religion

by

when the service ends…

 

the police report
noted the beast was concealed
surprised witnesses
claim worship was quite normal
but just outside the entry
faith’s face was strewn on the ground

 

by

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

by

covering bases…

covering bases

death
stands
on street corners
sometimes
wearing
old rags
sometimes
in
well-appointed suits
but
the eyes
are always
the
same
eyes
that penetrate
into
the places
you
try
to hide
where
your soul
abides
with all
of
sin’s barnacles
attached
to
the facade
of
your existence
so
you
pray
for forgiveness
to
a god
you
doubt
is there
but
as you note
one
mustn’t
eliminate
options