Ave Maria

Ave Maria

Our Lady Queen of Peace, New Jersey

Sunday Morning

1969

She is dressed in flowing blue robe. I sweat in an itchy white nylon

communion frock, feeling like a fraud.

Even at age six, I knew there was something wrong

with coveting Our Lady’s rhinestone crown.

Oh! how I wanted it, I imagined the weight

of it, how it would sparkle when I turned this way and that.

I plotted ways I could sneak out of my grandparent’s house,

dodging behind hedge and tree. Running the half a block

to the little church where, dressed as a miniature bride I first

received the wafer. It tasted of cardboard and went instantly limp.

I had a moment of panic when it became lacquered 
to the roof of my mouth and I couldn’t prise it loose with my tongue.

There was nothing I could do except wait miserably for it to dissolve,

wishing I owned that crown,  pretty sure I was going to hell.

Kids told me that holding the host too long in the mouth was satanic.

I realized years later it was probably made of cornstarch.

New Poetry Website

Thanks to the creative team at Desolate Spectre Studios I have a new  poetry site. It was designed and made my Margaret Pickering, who listened closely to my brief and produced a site that I am delighted with.

There's a page about the poetry and me personally and a separate page with my bio that contains links to poems published online. Read excerpts of works in progress.

The site reflects my poetry visually and represents my personal interests. There are also clues to my family history in the graphics. All the objects pictured are from my vast collection of vintage paraphernalia and years of  beach combing and general magpie tendencies.

The site will be added to over time, with full versions of poems and more imagery. Enjoy MarisaCappetta.com