The church— had other beauties
but when the doors—-opened
like a flock—-we all landed
at Teresa and the angel

A woman was making—-the sign of the cross
like blinking—–like pushing
a lock of hair away

I asked my husband: how does it go
do you cross from the left
shoulder—-right—- shoulder——–what

I can’t—-remember—- he said and tried both ways

 

 

This faith was not mine
this——bite—–into colorless
this——flush with skin and bones
this eating the—circle this
fingering of names—-that
bridge of bending—-angels

 

 

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Christina Pugh’s five poetry collections include Stardust Media (Massachusetts), winner of the Juniper Prize; and Perception (Four Way). She is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.