Sister Magdalena

 

alabaster skin

cold to the touch

pinched

            bloodless

            lips

 

eyes

the colour of duck eggs

piercing

            your

            soul

 

wisps

of taut hair

creeping

            from

            her scalp

 

cross on chain

hanging from

scrawny

            bird

            throat

 

rosary beads

fingered and fumbled

prayers

            for

            the wicked

 

black gown

of Christ

rustles

            down

            the aisle

 

the soft

shoe shuffle

of spider’s

            feet

            scuttling

 

whistling

in the air

the swish

            of

            the cane

 

Sister

Magdalena

pray

            for

            me