![]() MARTHA'S CONFESSION 1963A Poem by Terry Collett![]() A GIRL GOES TO CONFESSIONS IN EIRE IN 1963![]() ![]() Martha closed the door of the confessional, and knelt down in the dim darkness, and peered through the wire mesh, behind which the priest sat. She could see the shadowiness of him there. Yes my child? he said in a deep voice, what do you ask of God? Martha hoped there wasn't spiders anywhere hanging; if there was she'd scream, especially if it was hanging by her head. She searched as best she could in the dimness. Yes, my child? The priest said. Bless me, Father, I have sinned, she muttered, her eyes peering through the mesh, I last came to confessions... last Monday it was because Ma said to tell you everything, but I forgot about the forgetting to say the Hail Marys, and of course I did think horrible things about Sister Agnes that old bat, well she does go on so, and she has this smell, but no one tells her, but it kinds of hangs about the air, and well I can't stand strong smells, so I said to her about it, and she became quite offended, and that other sin I forgot, I did take a cigarette from Da's pack, but just the one, and lit it you see, and I neigh on choked and swore, and I known swearing's a sin, and I know the Lord hears and doesn't like the swear words, so I am here to add those sins to the rest I am about to say if I can remember them all, ...and Martha told the list in a monotone voice, and the priest sat gazing at the mesh wondering if the Maguire girl was going to be there much longer and tried to hold in a rumbling stomach noise, and mused, but at least she doesn't talk about boys. © 2016 Terry Collett |
StatsAuthor![]() Terry CollettUnited KingdomAboutTerry Collett has been writing since 1971 and published on and off since 1972. He has written poems, plays, and short stories. He is married with eight children and eight grandchildren. on January 27t.. more..Writing
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