A Patchwork Mary

Scrubbing dishes in a cold kitchen, on a tabletop rats nibble through a leather bible cover. She turns, a lock of sweat matted hair over one eye, shakes a red knuckle at a wailing child sat on the floor by the door. When Mary, in washed-out despair, leaves, she leaves a bible, the rats and a child there. Mary drying his feet with her hair. Mary at the temple calling for him. Mary full of sperm on a street corner. Mary full of a Grace, a face that makes her invisible to rabid dogs and drinking men. I want to put all of Her together old and young, fat Mary on roller skates, sweet Mary sucking candy, badly handled and shady Mary, to speak now for all the wet and dry virgins slobber some words from a beaten heart, for all the mother’s, all the worshiping foot washers; a patchwork Mary, a working Mary. Let us adore her from an upstairs room where the cockroaches scuttle near having no fear. if we don’t, she might one day castrate us with a steely smile. Today I walked for Mary, the sky was a blue egg, robed with light. I ate a chicken sandwich, lips slick with grease. In the Chick-fil-A a family was praying over their fast food. The joint was hopping kids scooting in and out of seats. A dozen Mary’s were trying to corral them, get then to be nice like Christ. Later I spoke to her at the foot of a crucifix, told her all my s..t, felt better, a kind of peace, knowing she knew all the things I do in the dark when she comes to me for forgiveness and rest. I make the sign of the cross, I make the sign of the cross. I mean why not?