Contrition

 

“Eye of the Needle” by Vladimir Kush

 
forget about camels

contrite men may pass through

the needle to grace

earthly goods left behind

no more wounds need be sewn

Imperfect Contrition

“Olimpia”
Painting by Bill Murphy
From biddingtons.com

pain punishes bones
disarticulates sins
leaving vicious reminders
that throb underneath
turgid tissues awash
in hot swells of adrenalin
stealing the peace
from a penitent soul
come too late to its
realized regrets

Shriven

“A Cleansing”
Painting by pearl82980
From deviantart.com

turn the key
drop the chains
from the heart
open up
the pale skin
let the anger
and bitterness
drain from
the veins
leave the past
in a puddle
abandon the
pain pluck
the nettles
forget how
the blame
came to birth
disown guilt
through remorse
become soft
with tomorrow
enjoy these
new few
freshened days
look to bloom
in this sweet
final season
ready for
dying in
rose petal peace
clean at last

Bats

Photo from firstmusic.com

gliding impossibly
through spaces
of cluttered night
between branches
and belfries
seeking savory
unsleeping sins
and unlucky insects
caught within webs
spun by prayers
and ritual instinct
across unglazed
leeward lanterns
fenestrating
tall steeples
with white
eschatology
homed in on by hungry
blind second-sighted
web-winged scavengers
thieves of contrition
burgling silk strands
framing pantries
of penitent spiders