Church

THE CHURCH

Don't lose your faith in the Church. That's what my mother

said. You need something to get you through

this life. The last time I talked to her

she had loonies on her eyes. I can't look

at the priests in my memories. Even there

I feel threatened. Though I confess I mostly

admired their intelligence and grit

and humour. Except for the one who

took care of the library. He had a glint in his

eyes. And promised us that there were

stories to fill almost any night.

On Jack the old men

turn into boys. Laugh like dogs. Eyes open

like lemons. Sharing cigarettes and pictures

of naked women putting on their makeup.