La Serena, Templo San Agustin.

Oh, the lights went out on Mary

her flashing haloed crown

from pulse to chase to strobe

faintly blue white hue

she is number III

in the stations of the cross

or something like that

Jesus is at a stained glass window

a flag modestly girds his loins

i'm sure the red stained glass

is a velvet superhero cape

                                                                                    the donation locked boxes

                                                                                    are nailed hopefully

 to the walls

                                                                                    tithes to your favourite saint

                                                                                    i decide i like San Agustin

                                                                                    because he was a writer

                                                                                    it said so on his window

                                                                                    Mary and baby Jesus are

                                                                                    glowing red yellow and blue

                                                                                    with pagan snakes 

at their feet

                                                                                    and at the entrance

                                                                                    a man rattles hopefully
his collection of pesos

                                                                                    in an orange plastic cup