USA

theresahj@aol.com

Surrender

She comes from the dark place.
Where preachers point their bony fingers
and scream commandments.
Forcing the unworthy to dance
with the Holy Ghost.

She drags with her welts and bruises,
Welcomed by death yielding words and calloused hands.

Forbidden to reveal the desires of
her body
her mind
her soul …
She drapes herself in a midnight black, long sleeved
ankle length dress.

She shivers as dark brown soldiers
clad in long white robes sing –
urging the multitude of whoremongers, adulterers and liars
to surrender their souls to the Holy Ghost.

At last
She brings her hands together and bows her head.
Tears of hate and longing roll from her cheek …
Slowly …
Very, very slowly …
Her spirit withers
like a cold November wind.

© Copyright 2001, Theresa Harvard Johnson.
All Rights Reserved. Printed By Permission.