Joseph A Farina

The Scars Inside 

your age adds to your pain
as forgiveness gives way 
to your rage and the need
to shake away the soul's decay

through penance and confession
through sacraments that bleed
the anger always remains 
just below your senile smile

cracking that mask you
so carefully created 
taken off in the small hours
the hunter searching for his benediction 

waiting to strike again 
or be in turn struck by apparitions 
that see all the hidden lies
you carry and try to hide

petioning dominion for absolution 
to give you back that holy shine
to push back the nearing horizon 
and never having to run away again

Church Of You

let me worship
at the church of you
where sacraments are
your embrace and
your hand's caress
a benediction 
at your first kiss
you became my divinity 
let me whisper 
my confession of love
dispense your absolution 
as I perform my penance 
on my knees before you

The Sound Of Old Men Weeping

from single rooms
in senior halls
and lone park benches
in all seasons
from corner offices
overlooking
streets of power
and alleyways
beside blue dumpsters
pervasively
the sound 
of old men weeping
rises
in confession
of promises unkept
wayward vows
and standards never reached
the weight
of old transgressions
and choices
left behind

Joseph A Farina is a retired lawyer in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. drawing from his profession and his Sicilian Canadian back round, he is an internationally award-winning poet. Several of his poems have been published in Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine, The Wild Word, The Chamber Magazine, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Ascent, Subterranean Blue and in   The Tower Poetry Magazine, Inscribed, The Windsor Review, Boxcar Poetry Revue, and appears in many anthologies including:  Sweet Lemons: Writings with a Sicilian Accent, Canadian Italians at Table, Witness from Serengeti Press and Tamaracks: Canadian Poetry for the 21st Century. He has had poems published in the U.S. magazines   Mobius, Pyramid Arts, Arabesques, Fiele-Festa, and Philadelphia Poets. He has had two books of poetry published— The Cancer Chronicles   and   The Ghosts of Water Street and an e-book, Sunsets in Black and White.