I don't go to church for the gospel

I don't go to try and save my soul,

already too full of sin for salvation

On the rare occasion that I do go to church

it is to hear the bihas (female elders) singing

Usually nasally

Sometimes off beat

Always loud enough for god to hear them

I pray that God can hear them.

I go to listen to the cracks and scratches

of voices that have been to war and back

They march in formation to receive communion 

like soldiers gathering weapons before battle

There is a new war on the horizon

Armed with the body and blood of Christ 

with lysol spray and alcohol wipes

with hand sanitizer and face masks 

and 14 days of quarantine

they fight an enemy they can't even see

I don'r know if it will be enough to save them

I pray it will be enough to save them

I haven't been to church in a while

and I don't know if I'll ever go back

If the bihas don't return from battle. 

I chacha by myself in the kitchen

As Microchild plays over the speakers

They are singing one of my favorite songs 

Corona(n) flores

how appropriate

I dance with a partner I cannot see 

He lunges forward as I step back

We move in perfect synchronization

Forward

Backward

Forward

Backward

Forward 

I am backed into a corner

My partner is deadly

He closes in, swaying viciously

Still keeping time with the music

The dancing has become infectious

I cannot see my dance partner 

but I know his crown is not made of flowers