confessions at st. scholastica
circa 1958


3 o'clock saturday afternoon,every
saturday afternoon.
incense and burning beeswax
i thought it was like holy aftershave lotion
like my dad's aqua velva.
it tickled my nose.
i tried not sneezing. i never knew
if sneezing in church was a sin.
the sisters of st. francis, well
they weren't known for suffering the
questions of little children,
no matter WHAT jesus had to say about it.
they always told us that IF
we were hit by a truck after confession
we'd go straight to heaven
a get out of jail free card in
catholic monopoly.

they weren't sure if we were flattened
on our way there if our intent
would mean much.

i would squeeze my eyes shut, one small and

insignificant supplicant. confessing a little kid's sins.

they are much more interesting now

STILL forgive me father?