prayer meeting

o god he’s laughing

half his face fleshless
jaw hanging by red cords
one eye—staring, lidless
body an oozing mass in the middle of the floor
laughing, laughing
the Bible study sitting in couches
vanilla scented candles, murmuring
lifting a gentle prayer;
his laughter chokes, intestines bulge
against and through a wound
with a little splash of pooling blood
i can see the splintered bones of his arm
as the little ladies look up and smile dimly
good prayer meeting; time for lunch;
o god, he’s laughing

9/30/23