I saw your face
As I was washing
My children’s feet
In the too full tub 
Seeing faint smiles on the tiny faces
Pleasure release the tiny toes
But they are no disciples and they 
Did not shrink back in shame
But offered up their wiggling piggies 
To my touch
And isn’t that right
That we allow ourselves to be cared for?

I saw Christ’s face in yours 
In my memory now
Every time I screamed obscenities
Pulling away from you 
Making myself separate and 
Painting you as my adversary 
Bathtime long forgotten
Bedtime stories forgotten
Sitting on the counter while you made toast
Forgotten 
​
These little ones 
They’ll do this too 
But if I can remember you
And the smell of soap suds
As they scream me away from them

As they’ll need to do 
Sometime soon
I guess
Probably

​I will smile like the Madonna
And wait for their return.