I had a rabbi once.

He played guitar

and sang,

and he is singing far away

from my dead town.

I had a pope once.

I liked his Instagram pics,

wore a rosary on my wrist.

I had a god once.

He tried to make me

more than I was,

which is nothing.

All I am is a history of men.

The marble and blood.

I had a father.

He gave me ash, heart

problems, cathedrals.

I can’t escape

the hallelujahs.