Remember V

Enduring Church

Hard pews hewn from dark wood
and graced by stained-glass light;

the tickle of mother’s feather-like
hand across my spine, hypnotizing

me for the most excruciating part
(the homily). Stilled by her touch

I stare at the felt block numbers
on the hymn board up front until

suddenly we are standing and I am
listening for the sound of hundreds

of sinners pronouncing the letter "s"
simultaneously, the way it pierces the

sanctuary when we pray: "Forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those

who trespass against us."