lent bothers me

on wednesday we wore ashes
a black cross of dust
that i kept smudging
bothered my eyes.

standing and kneeling
in an unfamiliar place
being reminded of my death
bothered me too.

no morning edition
no all things considered
distracted prayer
the silence bothered me.

talk of loneliness
purpose still unknown
lacking usual comforts
lent bothers me.

bothersome discomfort
pain and patterns revealed
holes become apparent
Jesus come and fill me.

lent bothers me,
and
this lent is good.