a postcard

stop snivelling and crying, said the priest
haven´t you got a handkerchief ?
he opened a drawer and gave me a neatly folded square
from the same drawer he produced a photo of a couple fucking
he tossed it onto the table
it´s not a moral universe, said he
it´s chemical and sexual
attraction, desire, negation, rejection
he stood up, I got to my feet
he punched my upper arm playfully
"now, you go out and rip it up ! "
I kissed the ring on the proffered hand,
felt the rough cloth of the sleeve.