In a darkened church
At evening
A dark shawl
Covering
Your too bright hair
As you try hard
To be subdued
And fail gloriously
The candles
Spin gold auras
From your tresses
As you pass the votive stand
And slip behind
Confessional curtains
And I go there in my mind
As the panel opens
And you chant your sins
and mine
All the venial trespasses
That can be expiated
By a prayer
But for one dark outlier
Than can’t be banished
So easily
Who watches regrettably
Wishing you free
Not living with somebody
Quite as dark as he.