Carol Muske-Dukes
JOIN THE CHURCH
Come to Jesus, yes, yes!
But only if you are willing to
Be that funny god-like guy.
Don't come to the ones
Who point the fingers, who cast
The stones, who lack humor,
Who "missionary" those who should
Be saving them. Every day is Valentine's
Day in my Church. Every day is a day to
Believe in The Heart. Every day is a day
To annoy and please the world with poetry.
Old St. Valentine tried to save Romance --
But better than passion is day-by-day --
The hug in the doorway -- the hug in the
Sacristy of the Real Church: the kitchen,
The backyard, the late-night argument
In bed. O my children, join the Church,
the church of No-Church -- poets, painters,
anarchists, trouble-makers, loud women,
thoughtful men, genius animals (dogs, cats--)
Come to church -- the Great Dog is preparing
His sermon, the Pope Cat is looking on --
All of the birds are offering you their blessing!
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"Effortlessly, the narrator's story here becomes one with the stories of the women in prison. Rarely do we encounter a perspective clear as glass through which the characters look back at the narrator without mirror or microscope, false hierarchy or romanticizing. Brava!"
-- Toni Morrison