just as the morning envisioned itself
with a wet slap
a knife in hand
and jelly leaking from both ends
the communion wafer
was so satisfying
while all the candles melted
into blue soap
around our four feet
Mary
Madonna
my blue flame, my tugboat
you stole my heart from the panther’s jaws
dragged it up a tree
and I heard you thank God for every part of me

Andrew Gibson studied creative writing at North Carolina Central University. He works as an educator.