Bathtub Confessional

Empty sponge on the side of the tub

Scratchy, and rough, and silent, and still

I wait until your spirit

Gives you a sense of your need,

While safe on the side, I sit and stay dry

Empty sponge on the side of the tub.

The sound of the water silences my breath

The flow of the faucet syncs with your speech

And naked you lay with your stench uncensored

Half-baptized in a bath yet searching for more

While submerged I can do nothing except squish and squirm

Saying please please please just let me breathe

And you squeeze, and squeeze, and squeeze, and squeeze,

And silent I remain.

And you scrub, and scrub, and scrub, and scrub,

And scars they stay the same.

The soap may cover you, but I, a sponge,

Cannot cleanse you from your sin.