CROSSING
A quick confection for the wait or not, you're handed an empty plate The lobby is full, some stand, some hyperventilate There's a window with a little sliding door in the wall the receptionist opens to call each name Remember what you learned, you urge your brain Think of everything you've heard Wasn't there only one unwashable stain Is a soul forever blemished for misusing the most important word Some folks chit chat casually Others sit bolt upright in silence with their fingernails digging into their knees There are people crossing themselves and huddled in prayer A young man cries listening to an old woman sing A twenty-something is telling whoever will listen This is a mistake, a clerical error, surely I eat right, drive safe, he explains calmly Exercise regularly, my doctor never gave me any reason to worry I'm careful to avoid calamity and there's no violent crime in GoldGate, the realtor assured me You stand off by yourself just hoping the sickness of your sin will be met with kind mercy Trying not to take it as an omen the plate was passed to you without a crumb left of cookie Stupid, you're just being stupid, you scold yourself but you could swear you already feel yourself cooking But you meant it when you repented Each time you kissed the cross you wear He was looking