the incident at St. Raymond's

i accidentally

sat down in a pew,

at church,

in a spot where an

old couple had been

sitting

for forty years.

excuse me, they said,

but that's where

we sit.

i looked over

my shoulder at the dozens

of empty pews,

and said,

i'm sorry, but there's

plenty of room.

get up, the woman said,

or else,

holding up her umbrella,

the man

took out a cannister

of pepper spray

and said get the hell out of

our seats,

but i refused to move.

then the service stopped,

and the choir

came rushing over,

the altar boys

drew swords, the priest,

ran up

with his holy water.

but i grabbed

a hymnal and began to sing

and pray,

i hung on.