perched on the very last pew
left of the aisle
I genuflect to nothingness
no bread, no wine  

left of the aisle for this girl
no bread, no wine
The State of Grace is a foreign nation  
for this girl

the kind priest asks, “Why?”
I say, “The State of Grace is a foreign nation.
for this girl”
Yet she lives up to her vestments  

the kind priest asks, “Why?”
I say, “I cannot love all my neighbors.”
Yet she lives up to her vestments
“I have no love for those in red hats”  

I say, “I cannot love all my neighbors
those mourning Charlie Kirk
those in red hats
wavers of that pseudo-Confederate flag  

“those mourning Charlie Kirk
those ICEbergs and their subzero mission
wavers of that pseudo-Confederate flag
how can I confess all that I have left undone?  

“those ICEbergs and their subzero mission
I dare not kneel at the altar rail
how can I confess all that I have left undone?
my sins of omission?  

“I dare not kneel at the altar rail
my arthritic knees will not let me rise
from my sins of omission –
I cannot rise up  

“my arthritic knees will not let me rise
I genuflect to nothingness
I cannot rise up
perched on the very last pew.”