Maiden Aunt (For Nellie)

She tells her beads a litany of loneliness prays to God that he will not leave her forsaken like this without love without knowing another's body holding her tight in the night. 'My God...my God! ' she cries but God only laughs demands she goes down on her knees & worship only him forsaking all her dreams a kiss a lover's touch her name on another's breath. She listens to the children's voices play cards scream: 'Old Maid...Old Maid! ' She cries in the hellish dark until weariness & whiskey hush her to sleep. Tomorrow, she will get up &...feed pigs.