Three Silences

Bone dust and cold thick haunting silence rests
where pews and people creak and break the peace
and echo of my prayer, the echo of the priest
dark wood pervades. Dark silent shelter tempts.
Dim light breaks, soft soothing mellow silence
this gentle touch. This now. This edge of day.
The lightness of my breath. Eternal grace
as fine silk cloth, slipping through my fingers.
But conscious breath, the chalice veil lifted
stalls the rhythm of my heart. The question if
I throw the covers off, again I slip
into exquisite silence of choice.
The noise of now, the truth so told, so bare.
Or prayer of love and hope and doubt unvoiced.