how I would shake
confessing venial sin
in that dark space
behind that sliding door
to Father
Father Son and Holy Ghost—
an apple pilfered
from the cellar bin
a cuss word slip-up
a neglected chore
a schoolyard scuffle or a lie
a boast—
while he who consecrated
water wine
who baptized babies
visited the sick
was fucking me though they
would reassign
him allegations never seemed
to stick
because whose word was sacred
his or mine
my lexicon too simple tongue
and dick
the bishop kicked the reverend
upstairs
before he died but sent
his thoughts and prayers
Catherine Chandler is the author of four collections of poetry, including Lines of Flight, shortlisted for the Poets' Prize, and The Frangible Hour, winner of the Richard Wilbur Award. Currently living in Saint-Lazare-de-Vaudreuil, Quebec, she was reared in Wilkes-Barre, PA, in the Diocese of Scranton.