toaster oven gospel

the church on a slice of bread.
i was summoned
as marmalade.
always knew communion
wasn't really flesh. instead,
i saw it as bone. hard to chew.
my tongue, the rutter 
of a ghost ship. sand between teeth.
you will do anything
when you are starving.
fill the monster pew.
i find crumb litany 
& carry a trowel through the day
in case i have to stop 
& bury another angel. 
butter comes in fistfuls.
a dripping sink. heat 
angry & glowing red. i put on
the complimentary sun glasses.
i shave my face 
so no one will recognize me.
skip town. another church.
another sunday morning without
enough light.
me, just a golden plate
waiting to carry the skull
of a deer into the sacristy.
red flickering flame. 
i carve worship until 
it becomes a garment.
put on the dress. become
the woman priest. 
light my hair on fire. this is not 
a tongue of flame. this is
the ashes of a feast.