Unholy Sonnet 14

Unholy Sonnet 14 --Mark Jarman

After the praying, after the hymn-singing,
After the sermon's then chant commentary
On the world's ills, which make ours secondary,
After communion, after the hand-wringing,
And after peace descends upon us, bringing
our eyes up to regard sanctuary
And how the light swords through it, and how, scary
In their sheer numbers, motes of dust ride, clinging-
There is, as doctors say about some pain,
Discomfort knowing that despite your prayers,
Your listening and rejoicing, your small part In this communal stab at coming clean,
There is one stubborn remnant of your cares
In tact. There is still murder in your heart.