baptism

Mar 23

They came for me in the depth of the morning
Their fingers strong from holding
The secrets that they bore
Averted eyes and mouths that whispered
Their murmurs called me “sister”
From this day evermore

Dressed in black and silver
Down the steps and to the cistern
I wept
Until my knees hit solid ground
Hands on my shoulders
Pushing down ‘til flesh met water
And the dirt of all my sins
Was washed away

And I prayed

Baptize me in the name of the father and son
I’ve worshipped dusk to dawn
Knees to the ground, eyes to the heavens
Hands in chains, bitter taste of tradition
Baptize me in the name of the father and son
I’ve worshipped dusk to dawn
Knees to the ground, eyes to the heavens
Blessed is the day that a girl becomes a woman

They draped the veil with practiced precision
Met my questions with quiet derision
For what would come that night
Shadowed looks and haunted faces
Their smiles – tight and fading
As black cloth turned to white

Dressed in white and silver
Down the aisle, to the altar
I wept, despite his gaze upon my face
Hands on my shoulders
Pushing down, ‘til flesh met water
And I worshipped
‘Til he washed
My sins away

And I prayed

Baptize me in the name of the father and son
I’ve worshipped dusk to dawn
Knees to the ground, eyes to the heavens
Hands in chains, bitter taste of submission
Baptize me in the name of the father and son
I’ve worshipped dusk to dawn
Knees to the ground, eyes to the heavens
Blessed is the day that a girl becomes a woman

Ring of silver
Coiled tightly, laying claim
To a husband
He who doesn’t know my name
Callused fingers
Wicked man
He pulled me closer
Screaming “worship me again”

And I prayed

Baptize me in the name of the father and son
I’ve worshipped dusk to dawn
Knees to the ground, eyes to the heavens
Hands in chains, bitter taste of attrition
Baptize me in the name of the father and son
I’ve worshipped dusk to dawn
Knees to the ground, eyes to the heavens
Blessed is the day that a girl becomes a woman

Anna Horzen