Lent... Poem by RIC BASTASA

we shall throw away wrist
watches
oh, we can still tell the hour
of dusk and twilight
time is reduced to sunsets and
sunrise
categorized, simplified,
chunked,
we have worn so many accessories
we set them aside
oh, we are still alive
and even relieved of the fears losing them
those trinkets
what are they? those rings
do they not choke the fingers?
we find a river
put the moon and the marshes
some hornets and storks
floating leaves and herbs
we listen to the songs of
the palms
we shed off
dresses of pretenses
the night is warm and the waters so cool
we swim we sail and paddle
under the moon
we are naked now
do not mind if part of us is still dishonest
it is part of this
purification process
keep on washing
this soul...