~1979

this is the year she discovers

the difference between heaven and hell

when the north star shines brighter

than one dull streetlight

that fizzles

flickers in the distance

of course, he can give her a ride home

a slow drive through august

with a quick stop

in an empty church parking lot

he preaches to her like his father had

last Sunday

places her in his pulpit

a leather-torn backseat of a

cherub gold trans am

he can cleanse

her skin

she needs faith

he can save her starving soul

he knows god

and she looks like an angel

he says she is beautiful

as he baptizes her

with the oil of his sweat

as he pushes inside

her bleeding innocence

with a flesh piercing scream

evil glows in his narrow

yellow eyes

she is twelve and summer's over

she never skips the sidewalk cracks

going home

flocks of ravens circle 'round

and she wonders if they know

she carries part of him

growing in her stomach pit

she watches behind herself

and waits

for the devil who comes as the preacher’s son

for her angel wings to unfold

lah  10.10.11 ©®