Mary's Lost Lamb

the suffering of a catholic,
kneeling in the pews.

the hands of an atheist,
lingering on the pews.

someone whispers,
"forgive me father"

the atheist opens one eye.
Are they actually praying?

together, they say amen.
sing alleluia.

the atheist's lips bloom open,
but no sound flows from his mouth.

he has not ever felt so foreign.
alien, only to himself.

the cathedral makes him weep with loneliness.
"what have i done wrong? what have i done wrong?"

the bronze angel bleeds with him,
sorrow is all she knows.