Cornerstone (Tracting in New Mexico)

With vivid cunning 
she draws rounded 
petals of smoke 
within her mouth, 
crosses a bony knee 
and speaks 
of converting 
other Lamanites. 
Eve, too, 
was a brunette. 
And from this tender mouth 
rings the laughter 
of a girl, 
a vessel of the fruitful earth. 
My body is 
occupied 
by sin, 
she says, laughing. 
I know because 
the holy spirit 
told me. 
The devil is a molten ball. 
I dreamed of 
Catherine of Siena 
as a child.

Endless nights, Father.
White flowers 
bursting into flame
at my bedside: 
a sign. 
Pierced through 
the heart with 
a sharpened candlestick.
I come, penitent. 
                        Sundays 
laid out before me,
fresh sheets 
drying upon 
the grass 
with rocks 
at their corners. 
Parted lips 
are among 
my eternal 
burdens. 
How much 
do you wish 
for this naked hallway,
this remorse?