They sat in rows
on folding chairs
and listened to the preachers and
the deacons try to explain
what Paul meant in Ephesians.
It seemed important to know
what Paul meant in Ephesians.

Can I have a LifeSaver?
he whispered to his mother
who reached in her purse
without looking and handed him
the half-spent roll.
The next one was pale yellow.
He had hoped for a red one
or at least a green.
It seemed important.
—Ken Gibble, Greencastle, Pennsylvania, is a retired Church of the Brethren pastor. These days, instead of writing sermons, he writes poetry (mostly) and other stuff.