Song for St Jude

In a purple top, with a black handbag,

on a golden Sunday afternoon,

the leper butterfly sold colours to the blind.

Bruised hands holding yellow beads

and first-class tickets to Calvary,

she danced to the tune of the Salvation Army band.

On our way to St Jude’s Coffee Shop

where all the sinners go

for love of dreams, for company,

for redemption in a paper cup-

we stir up revolutions,

we choke on dust and love.

Now over white tea cups there’s conversation,

under blue eye shadow soft brown eyes,

she murders sleep in a thousand soft methods.

Twisting in her solitude

she would peel the paint off the evening sky

then we’d go back home to dream in black and white.

Drowning in our naked lust,

dying for the thousandth time,

we bring champagne for Jesus

and violets for the bride

then we end up chasing horses

under falling stars.