Through a glass darkly
Todd Bersley
The air was still and dusty, charged
with the hum of organ-tubes,
and the hard pine pews
dug into my shoulders and legs while
white robes danced around my father's arms
as he coaxed the stiff men and women of South Dakota
into a more comfortable position with Christ.
Then they stood, and I mumbled
along with words I didn't understand
and watched my father bow his head
in front of the altar and call on God.
After he raised his head, he turned
with a flourish of the cross,
and told everyone to depart in peace.
When we met at the door and stared
face to face, he simply shook my hand,
nodded, and turned away.
He had asked me to depart in peace.
So I left him,
and 1 have never seen him since.
|
