stay tuned

i settle into the confessional

booth with

my pillow

for my knees, a hot cup of coffee,

and a bag

of chocolate

chip cookies, with nuts.

this could take awhile.

i begin with the small stuff,

and i can hear Father Smith

sigh on the other side

of the dimly lit screen.

i give him a white lie

or two, the red light i ran.

throwing out a newspaper

and missing the can.

finally i hit my stride with

the bigger sins,

and he seems more interested,

especially when i mention

Sally who teaches bible

study to the grade school kids

and is a Lector for sunday mass.

go on he says, go on, and then

what?

just as i get to the good part

i tell him i have to go.

but i'll finish up next week,

same time, same place?

and he says sure. 

5 o'clock sharp, but for now,

five Hail Mary's and two

or three Our Fathers, you decide.