The Church
Arthur Gottlieb
is going broke.
Priests are selling out
to save the stained glass
from foreclosure.
Bingo cards are being
brought up from the basement.
Relics will be raffled,
splinters of the true cross
auctioned off at bargain privces.
Statues of saints
donated by winners
are scheduled for the block.
We all pray Christ
will come off his high horse
cross his palms with silver
and invite the money men
back into the temple
to call off their mortgages
like guard dogs.
Holy water liquidated,
icons shipped to museums,
pews for firewood,
hymn books and bibles
to lending libraries.
Everything goes
as people prepare
for the madness that follows
unbelievers to an empty grave.