Ritual and Stylization
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
“There is no God and Mary is His Mother.” ~ George Santayana
“Some keep the Sabbath going to church” ~ Emily Dickinson
It doesn’t have to be a ritual
As stylized as the Roman Catholic lace
Upon a robe. If it’s habitual,
Say every quarter of the year, the grace
In it is quite enough to save you in
Iniquity. You stick your feet in bowls
And water and are sure your pride and sin
Are washed away afresh. This whitens souls.
Besides, if that is not enough, the juice
In tiny cups is brought to lips and so
Your faults are cleansed. Formality’s misuse
Will give you innocence with inner glow.
The bready motions . . . they will save you if
You do them—guilt gone!—every little whiff.
~ Phillip Whidden