10

the reason we refuse to linger in the manger

is then we would have to consider the mother of god

Sweet baby Jesus

my mother had no business conceiving a god

my religion is storytelling

words are my disciples

go into the world and break their backs

fight boundaries and if they reject you

dust your feet

use your imagination to reach the heavens

Oh what I would give to have another evening to sit in the quiet of an empty Chapel

just us and statues of saints in silence with God

reveling in open mercy

if only my knees would hit the ground

and my mouth could accompany it's fall

with hymns of repentance.

the reason we refuse to linger in the manger

is then we would have to confront the mother

of god and my catholic roots reaching out

with remainders of my first holy communion

holy confirmation demanding a confession

of sins from me

father forgive me for I have sinned

against the womb that brought me into this world

at the hour of my death I betrayed my mother.

amen.