Opalesce

She’s gonna cast spells

She’s gonna gash the sky with lightning

She sleeps on the sea’s swell, tossing

With all depth and all sex below

Woken by a sound like someone calling out

A voice on the shore 

She motions at the wharves

Light slams, thunderclaps crescendo

Opalesce has been provoked

If he wants to be spared

He’s gonna need a prayer

He’s getting nowhere talking

With her hair roped around his throat

“God be praised, Jesus saves,” he drools on

Opalesce has no use for devotions

Emotionless and illusive devotions

Woken by a touch like someone’s reaching out

She dives before

He can paddle out for more

Recluse, she immerses in misery

Opalesce has no use for devotions

Emotionless and illusive devotions

Devotion is emotionless

When long ago she glanced

The life that she must leave

She hoped that God’s relief

Still might be received

That she would live alone, but alone

Alone she’d plunge, repent, and thus be free

God never showed

He sent some child

God don’t even know what devotion is