passing the hat

look up from the hymnal

around at the faces of families closing their eyes

we're taking communion and passing the offering hat around at the same time

i reach for the hat and take all the cash and slide it into my ragged coat sleeve

and leave in its place a note to explain all of the reasons the spirit has lead me to leave

if there was a worthy cause for to give to may i be so bold as to say the givers not knowing where their money's going is as sinful as throwing away"