confession

I settle into the confession
booth
to confess my sins.
this could take awhile
I tell the priest
through the mesh screen
in the darkened
closet.
I can see him
shadowed in the soft
light, head
bent awaiting my words.
I ask him if he's ready.
I am if you are, he
says.
so I begin.
it's been 50 years since
my last confession,
I tell him.
oh my, I hear him say.
I imagine him rolling up
his sleeve to look
at his watch.
I hear a bottle of water
opened
and a loosening of
his collar. please begin,
he says.
okay, I tell him, but I
really need this,
so bear with me. there's
a lot that i'm sorry for.