Draft: Stock Letters and Keys

Lenten, they say,

in the old spring way—

those pointing at dust blown in and tumbleweeds

sins: oh yes, we remember those,

and now the sway

is a chopping block.

Stock letters and keys

to lock away the shameful things of me;

we who know vaguely

infidelity.

But do we give them away?

The Child desires not sacrifice but mercy;

breathe the cruel breeze, they say,

see, tumbleweeds,

and we do not let them go with the gray

dust wind singeing corners of our eyes.

These things that come between

we lock away

and cling

to m...