Forgiveness of Sin
Shadow escorts me from this barren province
to conjoin distance with what remains.
Before ornate altar, where the blemished sip,
white candles’ grace blurs the gilded cup.
Fragile silver chain dangles on the virgin’s wrist,
thumb crossing my brow on day’s equinox.
Spirits amended for the impending day,
colored glass emblazoned by radiant sky.
Disputed promise bodes a gift of rebirth,
bent souls contented in their personal dark.
Sam Barbee
Sam Barbee’s poems have appeared Poetry South, The NC Literary Review, Crucible, Asheville Poetry Review, The Southern Poetry Anthology VII: North Carolina. His second poetry collection, That Rain We Needed (2016, Press 53), was a nominee for the Roanoke-Chowan Award as one of North Carolina’s best poetry collections of 2016.
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Poetry