Ablution

  photo taken April 24, 2009                                   

Ablution

the heavy rush

of water

muted light through

glass brick

a long soak

to wash away

harsh words, rough 

hands, 

shame

I close my

eyes 

against rising

visions in 

twisted steam 

from the faucet

gushes

water clean 

and yet-

the scars

mine, the 

children's, 

are too deep

to touch

with cloth and soap

I slide below

the 

surface

Lisa Murphy-Lamb