Open to Interpretation, July 2013
The girl cannot stay in her bed.
Jesus requires of her one more prayer.
…if I die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take…
The covers are warm but
she must go back to her knees
…and Jesus will come
like a thief in the night…
will take her mother, leave her behind
unless she gets back to her knees
…Please Jesus…
I want to be born again…
her knees are getting so cold.
My children never say I pray
the Lord my soul to take.
God knows I don’t want him
to take their souls
or their wolf-cub bodies.
I work voodoo on my knees
beside their beds.
Jesus Christ, my husband says,
won’t you ever come to bed?
Night falls on my babies.
My girl dreams she’s lost me
…and the sins
shall be visited…
I blow lightly on her face,
stroke her cheek, cross her wrists
hoping Jesus can’t get past
the sign of the cross.