Grace

A prince of the church
fell from grace,
and a child was buried
under the holy waters
of a chapel
burdened by long-delayed advent.

In a way,
we make a way
for this to happen—
not the sin but the disappointment;

wise through experience
in the light of day
but feigning innocence
in matters of the cloth,

we maintain our hold
on sacrament-forming habit
and choose to know nothing of
blood in the water.

In our bargain,
none knows
if the delay may be
longer still, or ever,

but that earthbound day,
a prince of the church
fell from grace
and a child
was raised to walk.