for Judson Mitcham

A production worker
in the cafeteria wanted to talk
about Christ
on my lunch hour
I did not
and if I knew the bible
and if I was saved
I did not
I was not
so I got up
and moved away
with franks and beans
purchased from a vending machine
wonder of wonders in ‘68
to another table
with sinners
from the afternoon shift
playing cards for great sums of money
which always scared me
when they finished
it was back to work
to be scalded in the hot ether of foundry hell
I was just another kid
in blue coveralls
another cocksucker prick
asshole dick shit cunt
in this noisy scripture
like it or not
born every day
new and untouched
by Jesus