Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Ash Wednesday

Humans of God,
Take your place in line.

Ashes in pie tin
mix with ashes on skin.
When you rub my forehead
are you applying
or uncovering?

Priest to priest,
From dust we have come--
vertical line
--to dust we shall return.
horizontal
passed from ashes
to ashes.

Pastor Jeff said,
“The reason for the ash
is to remind us that we all come
from the same place:
we are all dirt.”

So.
An endless chain of fetid priests,
every white-washed one of us.
Priests.

The first emerging from dust,
the last disintegrating.

Dirt caked nails,
ratted hair,
stinking breath,
burnt wick, broken incense.
Image of God,
Give me your sacrament.

Reveal my ash.

Until we return to the ground,
let's take our place in line

to be anointed by the whore priests
in the footsteps of our Lord.