GRENDEL6.                            4-26-89

        v. 1.   A torn piece of paper

                I don't need it anymore

                Because I won't forget what happened.

        v.2.    He came to me distressed

                And told me of missing confession

                For the first time in

                Eight years

                The first time since he told God

                He'd confess every week without fail.

                He sweated profusely

                Not knowing what to do -

                He had missed his confession.

        v.2.    He had to drive his mother

                To the airport

                And it was urgent

                To get her there.

        v.3.    What to do now,

                What to do.

                Turbulence of conscience.

                Quandary. Anxiety.

                He's short of breath,

                scared, but still talking.

                What does God think?

        v.4.    I ponder this seriously

                And then address him slowly

                To tell him how

                My mature self

                Sees all of this

        v.5.    This is a special compact with God

                You made, young man.

                The type NEVER to be broken.

                But you did not confess-

                You broke your sacred, deep vow,

                To God, no less

        v.6.    You blaspheme in your rationalizing/

                Your oath means nothing

                To God now

                You broke it, clear and simple

                Who is more important, Your mother, or God?

        v.7.    WHY DID YOU DO IT?

                GOD IS ANGRY.

                You were the one out of 

                10 million he could count on

                Yes, you did it,

                By not confessing -

                A sacred vow- shattered to hell.

                GOD IS WRATHFUL, YOUNG MAN.

                I left him in his bedroom.

                He ran the shocking truth

                Through his mind

                Over and over:

                Blasphemy.  Guilt.

                Heresy.  Perdition.  Lost.

                Later that night, I

                Heard him scream.