Marilyn Westfall

M a r i l y n   W e s t f a l l 

The Welder’s Angioplasty 

Come winter, when  

they chilled him—six 

metal stents—he went 

woozy, feeling phantom 

needles & his groin 

gone numb, heard 

whispers—relax—as 

surgeons fused steel 

  with his heart. 

Devotional  

Whenever Monsignor  

phoned, she volunteered,  

mopped sanctuary  

marble, babied walnut  

pews with lemon oil. No  

saint—not like her mom  

had been, genuflecting  

just to dust the feet  

of Jesus.