In Loving Silence

 
faux stained-glass windows baffle the echoes of trickling sand
strummed souls plucked and picked flicker
the fear-amplified loom over themselves out-of-body 
the dark preacher booms light he lassoes extraordinarily renditioned
loving light turned inside-out
and straight-jacketed in sackcloth and hateful understanding
the voice and presence the earthen judge with alibis
grim-faced with conviction
regular hot ash and fries..

he need not forgive himself for condemning the experienced
as spaghetti strings of frankincense veil the polished message-mincer
curlicues of guilt encircle the blamed annointed with malevolence
the dusted eyes raise up so fearful beseech the tulpa flames 
the damned for heaven claimed
and disposed of before their expiration date..

and in a bar somewhere
a kind and wise and wayward man
listens to the deepest secret of a troubled stranger
after she unburdens herself
she gossamer brushes his hand the sincerest blessing
a vodka-washed thank-you angel feathered..

contemplative for a while they remain
they remain in a shared and generous chrome-reflective silence
a generous silence that both the creator and the barman understand
they part ways once and forever
the listening voice again has spoken
the listening voice that never asks for anything in return..