Church
In the house of Death
the part-time priests
hover around you
like a cloud of mosquitoes.
Even though you look dead,
they cry
that your life
was always theirs.
They hypnotize you
and you can't resist
their invitation.
You've lost track of the time,
and you don't know why
you came here.
They cry
that this choice
was made long ago.
In the half light,
as you tumble toward sleep,
you're stunned to hear
that nothing is sacred.
And you know
that this is the end.
Ed Hoyer Jr
c. 1993