i gave up sacrifice for lent
in a way it was a joke
a humorous excuse for being unprepared
but in a way i was serious
You say You want mercy, not sacrifice
You don’t need my good deeds, necessarily
You don’t need my forty days’ worth of chocolate
You don’t need my three chapters duly read every day before bedtime
You don’t need anything i could give You
or give up for You
You say You want
me
just me
that tiny naked word
stripped of adjectives and accomplishments
You want this restless heart that fails You
this wandering mind too often content
with entertaining trifles
You want this unruly house of flesh
You want my soul
You want me —
some days it’s hard to believe
and sacrifice is easier
