Hide and Seek

When I was Eleven
we played hide and seek
in the Sanctuary
as Christ watched
from peaceful hillsides
of stained glass.

Swallowed in disguise
of flowing robes
that were the choir's cloths,
we hid in cracks
and other places
where only spiders went before us.

Ran and shrieked 
at cobwebs in our hair.
We giggled in the Sacristy
trying on the preachers robes.
Debbie counted fifty,
and we hid...

The Reverend found us,
whispering in the pews,
crouching robed behind the organ.
He scolded us with sterness
for our lack of respect,
playing games in the House of God.

When I was Eleven
we shuffled out into the sunlight
flushed faces and scuffling toes,
reprimanded by the Reverend
for our innocent ignorance.
Evicted - from the House of God.