i know how it works.
first, they began with the sign of the cross-
up, down, right, left, center.
i will leave my hand on my chest and think,
what a strong heartbeat after he has broken my heart several times.
then they forgive our sins-
i have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what i have done and in what i have failed to do
my mind will savor these words and i’ll think to myself,
it is hard not to sin when you are standing right in front of me
and then
my chest will cave in on itself like it's
an ancient religious pagan dome
and my ears will start to ring
like the bells before communion.
and when it becomes still, silent and all you can hear
is the prayers around you, i think
*when i go up to that altar and drink out of that holy grail
i will be kissing the lips of a cold savior