Confession

You were meant to be my
savior, to listen to me
and give me wise counsel,
bless me and make me feel
loved, to forgive me and
help me to be at peace
in this world.

I didn’t know you would
crucify me, nail me to the
bed, pierce my side with
your sword, leave me to
die — your starched collar
removed, revealing your
Adam’s apple — I forgot
you were only a man.


Maureen Sexton (Western Australia)

the gift

my mother gave me a gift
wrapped in red and gold
and she called it love
but when I opened it
there was only religion
so I learned how to serve
   to worship at the feet
of god and man

no hand to lift me out
of this righteous lie
   this gutter where I
hung my head in holy
humbleness and she said
this would give me
everlasting life

and all I wanted was death
   I prayed, begged, for
mercy from my suffering
for I was just a sinner
who would always pay
for the sins of all the
women before me

then I found the gift of
awareness and I rose
to the level of my mind
and beyond    and flew away
to all the places I’d
never imagined


Maureen Sexton (Western Australia)

red

curving legs beneath
a red leather mini
skirt     red knee high boots
below fleshy thighs
what I can’t see
excites me as much
as what I can

the woman on stage
sweat down her face
singing ‘I found love
or should I say when
I stopped searching love
found me’     steel on steel
as slide guitar squeals

the mood is hot
and the smell of sweat
fills the room

I catch her gaze and
a flash of red painted
fingernails across the
room as she gives me
a little wave     my cue
to make my move     in
this room even the
brightest red is
easy on the eye


Maureen Sexton (Western Australia)