Brushed by sin, tempted by salvation

by Susan Groff Johnston in the August 1, 2018 issue

Humid August nights
sawdust and canvas
fresh-cut planks for pews
thick ropes and pegs
fibers in the air
piano music rolling, rippling
slight breeze of angels’ wings
churning guilt, the maw of hell
sweating in our cotton dresses—
tent meeting:
pounding blood, religion, boys.

This poem appears in the August 1, 2018 issue.

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