_4. & 5. Body and Blood

I. Body

For shelter
we stepped into St. Maria’s
and sat on the hard wooden pews.
I’m long overdue for confession,
she said,
but the prists only speak Italian.
Outside the rain flew from sky to slate.
I looked at my hands, brought them together,
then let them fall to my sides.

Christ in glass held tears from us
on the far side of the wall
one heavenly body shielding us
from another.

II. Blood

Walk, pilgrim, on the streets
worn down by your forebearers;
Rome is a city of ashes.
In the transfiguring light of
afternoon any outreaching
carapace might be a crucifix
illuminated; any cafe owner
Gabriel himself.
Stumble on the stones of yearning
catch yourself on the earth,
ashes again.
Drink of Christ,
the grapes and ground,
and on the table witness
the bottled oil separate
into the light of indivisibility:
what is bread,
what is body,
what is blood.