2010
06.04
06.04
In the church basement,
the bingo is about to begin.
No one bothers
to ask God for forgiveness,
merely for a card
with the right numbers.
The priest comes by,
grin wider than his collar,
blesses the crowd,
every last wallet
and pocketbook.
Church was never like this,
thinks one middle-aged woman
as she plays ten cards at once.
An old man is thankful
that gambling’s no sin
when the Lord gets His cut.
The sacred is delighted
to be secular
every second Thursday night.
Religion never felt so lucky.
The Trinity may be three across
but five in a row is better.