What silly friends I have,
so busy and active,
always losing their virginity,
getting into fights,
having miscarriages,
running away from home.

So far away they are and they
come to me to confess but I
am no priest. I am not even Catholic!

And yet, with no routineness,
no certainty,
no schedule,
they come back to me to confess
everything they feel they have done wrong.

And all I can do is try not to be parent-like
in my advice and responses because I fear
nothing more than turning them away.

No, I'm not disappointed, just promise me
you'll be careful, okay?

And all I can hope is that they are careful
because I will do nothing but worry about
every little thing they do and it will stay on
my heart and I will remember that no one
knows but
me and
them and
Him.

Dear god, it must **** to be a priest.