by Tony Robles
The winding roads
lead to a small
A-framed Baptist
church
a simple structure
where complex
questions reside
a stain of quandary’s
residue on the pages
of a holy book
the winding roads
unfurl wisps of gauze
colored mist exposing
A blush of hurt
the minister
is a pleasant man
who brings to mind
a ripe pear as i sit and
take in his sermon
feelings don’t
replace facts,
he says
and i look at the
facts of this church
a wooden table with
a nativity scene
a piano
pulpit
American and Christian
flags on either side
ceiling fan
people who utter
yes and amen in
the appropriate pauses
where the profound
makes its sound
“Feelings don’t replace facts”
i walk out the
door of this church,
built in the 1800’s
Its symmetry
intact
(A fact)
i look up
and see a single
yellow leaf fall
my eyes follow
as if caught
in a thought of
water
landing on
a bare branch.
caught
before
hitting
ground
feelings don’t
replace facts
but sometimes
they do
(c) 2018 Tony Robles
