Standing in the prayer circle
Hands linked
Heads bowed
I feel the familiarity of old
And the shame of hypocrisy 
As I’m not a church goer anymore

Amens all around
Then head out to the trail
And there 
Under a canopy
Of birch and poplar
The shame melted away 

This
This is my church 
Jack in the pulpit
Preaches love and beauty
Behind him
The waterfall baptistry 

The choir of cardinals
And robins and sparrows 
Sing to the congregation 
Of trillium and trout lily
Lady slipper and iris
Teaberry and great laurel 

I sit on a pew 
Of a fallen oak
In communion with nature 
Here
Here is where I feel
I’m in God’s house