Maundy Thursday
Language: English

Between the brown hands of a server-lad 
The silver cross was offered to be kissed. 
The men came up, lugubrious, but not sad, 
And knelt reluctantly, half-prejudiced. 
(And kissing, kissed the emblem of a creed.) 
Then mourning women knelt; meek mouths they had, 
(And kissed the Body of the Christ inded.) 
Young children came, with eager lips and glad. 
(These kissed a silver doll, immensely bright.) 
Then I, too, knelt before that acolyte. 
Above the [bad word] I bent my head: 
The Christ was thin, and cold, and very dead: 
And yet I bowed, yea, kissed -- my lips did cling. 
(I kissed the warm live hand that held the thing.)