Deflowered

Flowers picked from The Bishop’s Garden in the National Cathedral in Washington DC. Images were then printed in book format and placed around the garden with accompanied writing.

A bird of white blessed me with devotion,

A fire inside me, an incurable notion.

Stained glass in colored hues; transparent bliss

A sacrificial lamb with quivering lips.

Awaiting at your altar to obliterate and slaughter—

A sister, a woman, your faithful loving daughter.

I was baptized in gravel, no remorse or shame could resurrect.

I kneeled with open palms only to expect—

Fleshy, warm, and dripping with deceit,

Throbbing with disdain, I lay at your feet.

I rang the bells. I called your name.

Robbed and feeble, no answer came.