Church People Like to Touch You

by Jenna Buschmann

Church people like to touch you
They find you, sharks in the water
Smelling the novelty of you
Sniffing at the stink of sin.

They smile at you brightly
Their eyes twinkle, magpie style
Opportunity is knocking
Like a door-to-door evangelist.

They pull you close
“Oh my brother!” “Oh my sister!”
Are we family now? Are we close enough?

Church people like to touch you
Because they long to be touched
By invisible fingers and
Smiled at by invisible teeth.