Excommunication

The coat hasn't been off the hook in years.

Deep in the pocket, past a gum wrapper

and a nickel, is the Sunday bulletin.

June 1st, 2014.

There’s a brown coffee ring

overlapping the list of the Apostles,

blotting out Peter and half of James.

The prayer chain is a roster of ghosts.

I don't remember Mrs. Gable’s hip

or why we were supposed to care

about the youth group’s trip to the lake.

The paper is soft, almost like cloth,

failing at the folds.