The people in the café
Walk in and out
And in and out -
The lunchtime rush -

With black crosses on their foreheads;
Under their fringes,
Below their hats,
Above their glasses;
They forget they are even there,
The smudged little ash X's and +'s
Little kisses,
Adding it up.

The little ✞ so close to their brains
Makes the funny looks they give me
For eating meat somehow louder
And more meaningful -
Eating meaning for lunch? Today?!
Sacrilege! Surely!
Utter upsettment,
For utter disregard,
For their rules,
For His rules,
Because that is not
How the game works;

Do they stop for a second
In consideration
That I am not playing
The game?


-Jamie F. Nugent