The Last Baptism

The radio plays loud,
The faucet runs cold.
One fills the tub, the
Other fills the air to
              Hide their prayers.

They crowd into the bathroom in the back of the house.
A girl in white robes kneels in the water:
An appeal to God for a good conscience,
A claim to life.
              They sing a song of hope.

The radio plays loud,
The front door unlocks.
They couldn’t hear the soldiers enter, armed,
Didn’t know Judas betrayed them
              With a key.

The twelve lie slumped across the floor.
They pass through the water one last time:
Laying claim to life.
May we sing for them
              A song of hope?

(Spring 2015)