Sunday, July 20, 2008

Nickels and Dimes

Certain strengths from bone
to age depart.
The grip is tenuous,
shifting the cup
from His Hands,
"Take and drink..."
Swallow pride to commune,
no pinkie promise,
this is cross your heart
and guard the changed contents,
water to wine,
beauty for ashes,
house boy to husband,
tattooed roses for thorns.

Our betraying kiss is
wiped Maybelline clean,
the rooster stilled at dawn.
Grace is the refill,
a warmer, fresh brewed,
the breakfast croissant
broken for you
and for many,
baskets of biscuits and crumbs
gathered here together, worth more
than many sparrows
and sums.

Abandoned headlines and folded news
obscure an anonymous  
spread of coins 
on coffee stained formica.
Just enough change
to call home,
collect.



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