Ash Wednesday Octave

Imposition
is how it began

Imposition
patiently waiting
in a cup of
torched Hosannas

Imposition by
Pressure;
thumb to bowl,
ash to forehead,

Pressure
cracking rock into sand

Pressure
turning dirt to diamond

we don’t mean to
Impose
we always say, yet
we went,
our rite an
intent procession

Impose
the taste of fasting
on glutton tongues;
Impose
the task of prayer
on flabby souls;
Impose
the taunt of charity
on luxuriating lives

often,
apologies follow
Imposition:

miserere nobis
have mercy on us