Holy Water

Holy Water

a church aches

with grief, 

its pastor has arranged the pews

with all his favorites

the offering

is their offering

to him,

the unsuspecting hands 

drop bills in the basket

he uses to hush

the lips

of those who carry the cruets

across the steps

he takes to quelch his imagination

his thirst for wine

the water to wash his soul

clean

he hears the moans

the statues cry away their spirit

the missal

a weapon,

twisted words

painted smiles

stained cassocks

broken hearts

the service is over.

erin-cilberto

4/24/22

Reviews

[keith]

the wicked shepherd leads the unknowing closer to the cliff

religion is based on fears and retaliations ... a do this be rewarded, don't do this suffer for eternity game of 3 card montey ... aren't we a misguided mess?

many questions here jacob few answers
earned a 2nd read

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your words, keith...
yes, more questions than answers...and bad priests.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

The very people you would trust the safety of your child with, turn out to be their abuser .Every parent's nightmare. As for that child, a permanent stain on their life, an indelible marker of betrayal by those who should have known better. A poem that rouses anger inside. Church cover ups are abhorrent.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I was so lucky being an altar boy with an upstanding couple of priests in our parrish.
thank you, Chris,
j.

[Gee]

It is a regular occurrence stories of priests getting up to no good with altar boys who through fear and shame burden themselves with the truths until having the strength to speak out in adult life. Tis one of the sicker crimes we witness in today's society.
Morning Jacob, hope you and the quill are well :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and then they just get moved to a new diocese...
me and the quill are just getting older, Gee.
don't know how many more poems I have left in me.
j.

[DIVYA]

Holy water, not so holy. When something that should restore our souls leaves us in darkness, then it certainly deserves no faith and trust. This is such a beautifully worded and deeply felt poem.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I had been an altar boy when I was in grade school...I was one of the lucky ones.
the shame.
Yes, I feel very strongly about this topic....can't stop writing about it.
thank you for understanding...
your second sentence is so spot on.
j.

[John the Baptist]

This is a dark one, not making direct accusations but making some heavy inferences. Who is it that carries the cruets? Altar boys, perchance? Why must they be hushed? How is the missal twisted? How are the cassocks stained? Is there such a thing as an index for banned poems? If so, I think this one would make the list, maybe top it.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, this one might be banned...and a very astute read, John,
thank you.
j.

[Silmara McGarry]

How well you have putted all together in this poem, it is exactly that is my opinion also. Being priests humans with all the humans faults and all else. Well done dear Jacob!!!

I hope all is well with you :-)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

too human sometimes...thank you, Silmara,
j.

[cheyenne s garcia]

Well done. I really enjoyed reading.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you cheyenne's garcia,
j.

[Lydia Shutter]

We must remember that the religious leaders are still human. They have moods and emotions and often those invade the sermons and the attitudes conveyed during services. This seems to be about a funeral...and the priest might only be thinking of the contributions in the basket. Deep poetry here. Lydi**

[jacob erin-cilberto]

interesting....I can see it taking you there....I like that....thank you, Lydi,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

A sip of Wine... communion... a Prayer for the World... Amen

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate you, Pat,
j.